Wishaw Press

Scotland post silence a worry

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It’s been three weeks since Gordon Strachan and the SFA parted ways.

Now in internatio­nal football, three weeks is no time at all.

However, the lack of speculatio­n and chat around the Scotland post is something which is deeply concerning.

Malky Mackay was put in temporary charge of the Scotland team with one eye on the so-called ‘glamour’friendly with the Netherland­s next week.

At the time, many former players and managers were backing Mackay to take the reins full time.

In my eyes, this would be a disaster.

Not only are the personal problems Mackay has had in regards to racist and sexist comments made during his tenure at Cardiff but from a footballin­g standpoint it is not a logical move.

His last managerial outing was a failure at Wigan and he only won five out of 24 games.

It’s not exactly the kind of form which usually leads to an internatio­nal job.

There is also a side to it which many people will not be paying attention to.

Mackay was brought in to oversee Project Brave – a fundamenta­l change to the game which looked to improve our football from youth level all the way to the national side.

It was a brainchild of the SFA and they entrusted Mackay to see it through.

If he is to leave after a year and a half, you have to question how serious the developmen­t of our game is being taken.

Project Brave threatened to take away the chances for youngsters at certain clubs with academies being cut.

Motherwell were one of the clubs who originally faced the axe but after the SFA came to their senses, they decided not to scrap an academy which has produced players like James McFadden.

But the most important thing is that this project is carried out.

Mackay was chosen as the man to move it forward but he can’t take that on whilst dealing with the here and now of the Scotland team.

Regardless of the result against Holland, he should not be the manager going forward.

Far too much is made on the importance of a Scottish manager after the‘disaster’of Berti Vogts.

We can’t pretend like

The SFA should be casting the net far and wide

 ??  ?? Malk the right choice Mackay in the running
Malk the right choice Mackay in the running

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