GORDON PONDERS FUTURE

From Back Page Championships in 2008. Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes is another possibility if Hampden chiefs opt for a part-time incumbent until the end of the current campaign. Malky Mackay, John Collins, Alan Irvine and Northern Ireland assistant Austin MacPhee are scheduled to be interviewed by SFA board members at the end of this month for the vacant Performance Director’s role. Meanwhile, Graeme Souness has backed Strachan to remain in his post, insisting no other manager could do any better. Prior to the Auld Enemy clash, Souness had labelled the current Scotland and England squads ‘arguably the worst in the history of this famous fixture’. And despite admitting the nation’s World Cup dream is effectively dead after four games, the Scotland and Liverpool legend does not believe anybody else would be better-equipped to do the job than Strachan. Souness said: ‘The question of whether he (Strachan) should stay or go is not important. Is there someone out there who could make us better? I don’t believe there is. I think he is getting the most from a very modest group. ‘Nobody out there can get more from that group of players. ‘So far this year, the results have not been great, but you’ve got to believe that results will get better. ‘Will they qualify out of this group? No they won’t, but right now Scotland are in a cycle where they don’t have a great deal to pick from.’ Souness insisted the display at Wembley on Friday night needs to be placed in proper perspective given the shallow pool of talent available to Strachan. ‘Scotland were not humiliated,’ he said. ‘They were beaten by a better team with better players than them, and that’s generally what happens. ‘Scotland started reasonably well but once England got a breakthrough their confidence grew, Scotland’s dipped and then as a Scot you’re thinking: “Don’t let it be a real bad night”. ‘Making mistakes and not being able to score goals at the other end is a dangerous combination, but right now that is what Scotland have, and what Gordon has to work with.’