Who's next for the Tartan Army?
Who will be charged with improving the fortunes of the Tartan Army after George Burley's disastrous tenure?
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Wednesday, 18, Nov 2009 08:07
By Michael Younger.
Following the dismissal of George Burley as Scotland manager, the Scottish Football Association are now beginning the task of selecting the right manager to lead the national team forward.
When Burley was appointed for an ill-fated spell that featured just three wins from 14 matches and failure to challenge for a spot at the 2010 World Cup, the field was a lot thinner - leaving the former Scotland defender as the sole realistic candidate despite being in charge of a struggling Southampton side in the English second tier.
Burley's spell in charge was blighted by problems off the field and poor performances on it.
Striker Kris Boyd famously refused to play while Burley was in charge, while his Rangers team-mates Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were banished from the squad indefinitely following a drinking binge and their subsequent obscene gestures while sat on the substitutes' bench.
Michael Younger looks at ten candidates to succeed Burley in the seemingly impossible task of turning round the Tartan Army's fortunes.
The Front Runners
Craig Levein
Despite being the only person to have taken the Scottish Football Association to court to protect his human rights, the 45-year-old - who has spent the past three years with Dundee United - is set to be an early favourite to land the Scottish job.
Levein has guided the unfancied Tangerines from the lower half of the Scottish Premier League to fifth place in each of his two full seasons in charge, and is considered the fans' choice for the post.
However, if the SFA want to get their man, once wages and compensation are taken into account, they could end up having to stump up £2 million for his services.
Walter Smith
The current Rangers manger is pushing Levein hard as the SFA's preferred choice.
Having controversially left the Scotland manager's post in January 2007 to rejoin Rangers, Smith won the league title last season and had a highly successful spell with the national team.
Smith's club contract expires in January, so would be a cheaper option that Levein, but he is unlikely to leave the Gers in the lurch. The 61-year-old is known for making tough calls but the nine-in-a-row manager proved that his allegiances were a shade more Light Blue than Dark Blue when he chose to leave the nation the last time.
That decision still angers many of the Tartan Army and the SFA, already walking a tightrope with their bungled handling of so many recent issues, must be wary of courting a man who has already spurned them.
The Outsiders
Jim Jefferies
The 54-year-old is the longest serving manager in the Scottish top-flight, with almost eight years at Kilmarnock.
He is playing it cool, though, saying: "I've been linked before with the position. What I've said many a time when I get linked with a job, whether it's the Scotland job or any other job, I never comment on that.
"The day I'll comment on anything like that is the day I get asked, and then I'll be able to say yes or no."
Owen Coyle
The 43-year-old former St Johnstone boss is considered a surprise contender for the vacant job, but the Burnley boss says he has no intention of leaving Turf Moor.
"I'm the Burnley manager. I've been in the position before when there's been advances from other clubs," he explained.
"I've always said I'm loving everything I'm doing at the football club and that remains the case, so I think that would tell everybody my feelings."
John Collins
Former Hibernian boss Collins starred for his country at the 1998 World Cup and had a spell in charge of Belgian side Charleroi until earlier this year.
However, he is relatively inexperienced in management in comparison to some of the other contenders.
Nevertheless, he is one of only a select few to have declared an interest in the role.
"I'd be interested in managing the national team but it's not for me to put my name forward, it's for the SFA to draw up their list," he said.
"But let's make no mistake about it, it's a very tough job."
Despite the former Monaco midfielder's inexperience, Collins' former Scotland team-mate Kevin Gallacher is backing him: "It would be well worth putting your money on him. He's got a great philosophy. He had a great time at Hibs."
Gallacher also believes Gary McAllister is another prime candidate, saying: "Possibly, with no money in the SFA, it has to be somebody who's out of work. Gary McAllister's there, a young, up-and-coming manager and a great coach.
"So, why not go for someone like Gary?"
Gary McAllister
It isn't just Gallacher tipping McAllister for the vacancy - bookmakers currently have the former Coventry City and Leeds United manager at 10-1.
Despite limited success as manager in England, McAllister has often been linked with a job within the Scotland set-up and looked on course to be invited to fill a backroom spot in Burley's team before a move to a post at Portsmouth fell through.
Has a wealth of experience and would be a popular choice.
Jimmy Calderwood
The former Aberdeen and Dunfermline boss, 54, has opened the door for the SFA to approach him, describing the Scotland job as "the proudest one you could ever take on".
Currently out of work after leaving Pittodrie, where he was replaced by another runner for the Scotland job, Mark McGhee, in the summer - Calderwood said he would be interested if approached by SFA chiefs.
"Any Scotsman would be interested and I'm no different," he said.
"We are all Scottish supporters and the job would be the proudest one you could ever take on.
"I will not put my name forward but, if the SFA wanted to talk to me about the job, of course I would be interested. Who wouldn't?"
Calderwood has a decent pedigree in European football having spent 20 years playing and managing in Holland.
Two years ago he exceeded expectations by not only guiding Aberdeen to qualification for the Uefa Cup group stages but taking them into the last-32 where they were eventually knocked out by German giants Bayern Munich.
Mark McGhee
The 52-year-old Aberdeen manager was one of four men on the shortlist two years ago when he was Motherwell boss, but the SFA chose George Burley instead.
He said: "I didn't apply for the Scotland job last time. I was invited for an interview after being put forward by Alex McLeish and Gordon Strachan.
"All my best mates were pushing me up there, although I don't know if they are mates or not after what happened to George."
McGhee has since insisted he is no longer interested, as his priority is to bring success back to Pittodrie.
"I certainly won't be applying or doing anything in any other shape or form about the Scotland job," he added.
Joe Jordan
The Tottenham assistant is considered to be a Scotland legend and would be a popular and experienced choice.
Kenny Dalglish
As with Joe Jordan, "King" Kenny will forever be treasured as a Scotland great and although his spell at the helm of Celtic may be enough to put supporters off, he would be a popular choice to lead the national team.
But is he waiting for the Liverpool job?
Whoever gets the job will face a tough task picking up a deflated nation - and the SFA has said it will not rush to make an appointment. A February deadline has been set for the decision, which would still give the new man a month to adjust to his surroundings before his first game in charge - a friendly against the Czech Republic in March.
Could the expected delay suggest they are holding out for Walter Smith?