SFA must widen net in bid to save face

Hampden chiefs’ hunt goes on after No 1 target turns down approach

Embarrassment will be the most popular word in the Michael O’Neill for Scotland debrief – with shambles and debacle giving it a run for its money. The SFA deserve the criticism that will be coming their way.

But not for their No 1 candidate turning them down.

The amount of new manager searches that result in the first pick getting the job are probably outnumbered by those that end up with second or third choices holding up a scarf for photographers.

In O’Neill’s case, he has given SFA chief executive Stewart Regan enough encouragement to make it worth his while to pop the question.

The embarrassment is that it has taken this long to get an answer out of him.

It was an open secret by mid November that the SFA had settled on O’Neill as their man and they should have had a “yes” or “no” by the end of that month.

The dial on the embarrass men to meter could have a lot more movement left in it yet, though.

Just look at the two bookmakers’ favourites – a manager whose best work was nearly a decade ago and who will never be forgiven by many in the Tartan Army for walking out on Scotland (Alex McLeish) and the man who Regan publicly ruled out of the running (Malky Mackay).

Regan still has it in his power to make the O’Neill saga a minor sidestory.

He was a strong candidate but a candidate with holes in his CV.

The very fact that he has decided to stay safe with the long contract and undying love of the IFA rather than challenge himself with the bigger risk and reward that would go with Scotland won’t help him when he gets his next job interview, club or international.

The best managers back themselves.

For this to be a happy ending, though, the SFA have to widen the net.

They need to sound out other international managerial achievers, such as Cesare Prandelli, Guus Hiddink and Slaven Bilic.

Hiring someone who has taken a country to the finals of a World Cup or European Championship was the most important box that needed ticked from the day this recruitment process began. It still is.

Regan will see out the embarrassment of a “thanks, but no thanks” from O’Neill.

Saving his reputation – and possibly his job – will depend on who he turns to next.

And going through all this to unveil McLeish or Mackay won’t do it.

Pictures: SNS Group/PA. Clockwise, from top left: SFA chief executive Stewart Regan; top target Michael O’Neill, who yesterday turned down the post; possible candidate Alex McLeish; Malky Mackay, who took over as interim boss; and Derek McInnes, who is among the bookies’ tips.