Scotland given a £1m incentive to reach World Cup
money from the SFA for individual games, previously set at £400, in return for a massive incentive payment based entirely on success.
The Hampden tills have yet to pay out as Scotland’s absence from major tournaments extends back to 1998, when they reached the World Cup in France.
But this deal should be particularly attractive to the players as the French prepare to host another competition, Euro 2016.
That tournament will see an extra eight nations qualify — taking the Finals participants up to 24 and increasing Scotland’s chances of being at the party.
However, first up is a World Cup effort starting with a home double header in September against Serbia and Macedonia.
And it’s believed the initial pot on offer for Brazil is in the region of £1m, to be shared on a pro-rata basis.
However, that could swell to around double that figure once player cuts of sponsorship and endorsements are taken into account.
Those deals will shatter all records if Levein can lead his men to Finals for the first time in 16 years and create wild anticipation among the Scottish public.
Levein said last night: ‘Negotiations have started but things are at an early stage. I don’t want to talk about figures.’
Gary Caldwell, Kenny Miller and Darren Fletcher, who was absent from the trip as he continues to recover from illness, form the committee that deal with Levein on squad issues.
‘As things stand, the players get nothing for playing for their country,’ said Levein. ‘They are just proud to do it. However, it’s only right they are rewarded if they bring Scotland success.’
Levein is convinced the relative youth of the current talented squad suggests Scotland will be back at a major tournament during that period.
He explained: ‘We’re two years away from Brazil and four from France, so you look at that group and hardly any of them will be too old. Maybe only two or three.
‘Imagine James Forrest, Steven Naismith, James Morrison, for example, four years down the line. You’ll have boys who are already top players just now with 30, 40, 50 caps.
‘We’re in a good position building towards Brazil but we’ll be in an even better position for the Euros — even if there weren’t an extra eight teams qualifying.’
Levein will commence his preparation for the tough Group A schedule by making personal checks on all three powerhouses in the section within the next three weeks.
He will travel to France to catch Serbia in friendly action on Thursday then watch Belgium when they take on England at Wembley on Saturday.
Levein will then head a fourstrong SFA team at the European Championships in Poznan checking on two of top seed Croatia’s fixtures.
‘I try to watch every opponent at least once in person,’ he explained. ‘But most of the time we have a game when the other internationals are played, so I find it very difficult to get a look at them.
‘With us finishing up a bit earlier with the game against USA and these teams playing in June, I can get to see Serbia and Belgium.
‘Mick Oliver is in charge of the schedule. He asks what dates I’m available and he can tell me what is on.
‘I’ll still rely very heavily on scouting reports from other people and our DVDS. The scouting report gives you a lot of information but sometimes that one little thing you can spot in the flesh makes a big difference.
‘It’s a weird group, in that I don’t think there’s much between Croatia, Serbia and Belgium. And Wales are so strong for a sixth seed, the best by a mile.
‘All the away games are going to be tough but, at home, I think we’ve progressed a bit. I’ve got 11 players who aren’t here in Florida who I’d consider to be part of the group — and six or seven are Premiership-class.
‘That gives me a big boost and that’s why I feel, at Hampden, there are great possibilities for us to win games against the top three teams in the group.’