Fate of Mcleish on agenda as SFA bosses meet
● Board split on future of Scotland boss
Alex Mcleish is expected to learn his immediate fate as Scotland manager today when the national team’s disappointing start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign tops the agenda at a Scottish FA board meeting.
Speculation has surrounded Mcleish’s position since the aftermath of last month’s dismal performance and humiliating 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan which kicked off Scotland’s bid to secure an automatic place at next year’s finals.
The insipid 2-0 win over San Marino, officially ranked as the worst national team in world football, did nothing to lessen the intense scrutiny heaped upon Mcleish and his assistants James Mcfadden and Peter Grant.
The 60-year-old is understood to be determined to carry on in his second spell in charge of Scotland and try to guide his country to a first major tournament finals since the 1998 World Cup in France.
It is believed the sevenstrong SFA board are split over whether to call time on Mcleish’s tenure now or give him the opportunity to revive a Group I campaign which resumes with games against Cyprus at Hampden on 8 June and Belgium in Brussels three days later.
Today’s meeting will be chaired by outgoing Scottish FA president Alan Mcrae who, along with vice-president Rod Petrie, is a firm supporter of Mcleish. The rest of the board is comprised of Scottish fa chief executive ian Maxwell, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster, Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney, Scottish Amateur FA secretary Thomas Mckeown and independent director Ana Stewart.
Scotland have lost seven of their 12 matches under Mcleish since he returned to the role as Gordon Strachan’s replacement last year, the Scottish FA turning to him after their failed pursuit of preferred candidate Michael O’neill who opted to remain as Northern Ireland manager. After a difficult start, Mcleish, pictured, looked to have gained some momentum when Scotland recovered to win their group in the inaugural Uefa Nations League in the first half of this season. That ensured that even if the Scots fail to secure a top two finish in their Euro 2020 qualifying group, they are guaranteed the fall-back of a place in the play-offs.
It now remains to be seen whether a sufficient number of the SFA board still believe Mcleish deserves to see out the campaign.
Several candidates have been mooted should Mcleish be relieved of his duties today, including Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke and former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes, who is currently out of work.