SFA open talks with Gordon Strachan over Scotland manager's job

[ian1964 10,448]

STRACHAN, a Hall of Fame hero with 50 caps to his name, is both the bookiesâ?? and fansâ?? favourite to replace sacked Craig Levein and has been sounded out by SFA bosses.

 

 

 

THE SFA have opened informal talks with Gordon Strachan to take on the Scotland job.

 

MailSport understands the SFA committee set up to recruit Craig Leveinâ??s replacement gave chief executive Stewart Regan and president Campbell Ogilvie the nod to sound out candidates.

 

Former Celtic boss Strachan has already been contacted and a couple of conversations have taken place.

 

No formal interview has been held but Strachan, a Hall of Fame hero with 50 caps to his name, is both the bookiesâ?? and fansâ?? favourite.

 

The SFA are determined to have their new man in place ahead of the February friendly with Estonia at Pittodrie.

 

And another name in the frame is former Sweden boss Lars Lagerback.

 

The veteran campaigner, 64, was pushed for heavily by vice president Rod Petrie the last time the job was available.

 

But the Hibs chairman was outvoted and Levein was installed instead.

 

His name has now been mentioned again â?? although MailSport believes Lagerback has yet to be approached.

 

The fact he has a year left on his contract with Iceland would be an obstacle for the SFA in terms of compensation as they are already in a legal battle with Levein over his pay-off.

[Gazza_8 233]

Why haven't the SFA already started talks with candidates? Get the new guy in and let him get on with it. Fuckin' draggin' it out is pointless but it's what they do best!

[Zappa 0]

Why haven't the SFA already started talks with candidates? Get the new guy in and let him get on with it. Fuckin' draggin' it out is pointless but it's what they do best!

 

They're probably trying to save money by not hiring someone till January.

[GovanAllan 0]

Actually think wee Chesney will be a good appointment.

[The Real PapaBear 0]

I like Strachan - always have and I reckon he'll make not a blind bit of difference to Scotland. Great entertainment though.

[RANGERRAB 3,299]

as Souness once said all you've got to lose is your reputation when you take Scotland job. Reality is they're worst side in their WC group despite what Regan said after firing Levein.

[Gribz 743]

Walter Smith showed what it took and how to go about the Scotland job. I think Strachan can do something similar. Burley and Levein were disasters.

[pete 2,499]

A new manager comes in and has a look through the list of who has a great great great great granny who is Scottish and has not played in an international.

Then he realises there is not much quality around and forms the squad into a keeper with a 9 man defensive wall in front of him and a striker with a 3rd lung. Does it really matter who is manager. I even think Kuznetsov could do it.

[ian1964 10,448]

GORDON STRACHAN has been hauled back to Hampden in a desperate bid to resurrect our World Cup dream.

 

The ex—Celtic boss is expected to be named as Craig Levein’s successor within the next 48 hours.

 

Strachan is expected to bring in Gary McAllister as No2 with Garry Pendrey also targeted for a coaching role.

 

His first game will be against Estonia on February 6 but the SFA top brass are already eyeing the double-header against Wales and Serbia as new boss Strachan’s first big tests.

 

Strachan, who won 50 Scotland caps, impressed the SFA chiefs during top-level talks.

 

He has now landed the top job ahead of the likes of Tartan Army hero Joe Jordan and interim boss Billy Stark.

 

Strachan, who turns 56 just three days after the Estonia friendly at Pittodrie, will earn around £400,000 a year.

 

It is his first job since leaving Middlesbrough just over two years ago.

 

And it is his first job in his homeland since a stellar spell at Celtic Park ended in 2009.

 

Strachan won three consecutive SPL titles with the Hoops and led them to the last 16 of the Champions League in back to back seasons.

 

He also played a crucial role in the development of current Scotland stars like Scott Brown, Gary Caldwell and Kenny Miller.

 

Now the former Coventry and Southampton gaffer will take the biggest job in Scottish football — on a contract which will also include the Euro 2016 campaign and possibly beyond that.

 

His appointment is sure to win favour with the Tartan Army after his goalscoring heroics at the 1986 World Cup Finals, and other stunning displays for his country.

 

Former Leeds team-mate McAllister, another Hall of Fame legend, is expected to be confirmed as Strachan’s No2 within days. Macca had been close to the head coach’s role with MLS outfit New York Red Bulls, but is understood to have stalled on that job in order to link up with Strachan.

 

There is also expected to be a role in the new-look Hampden set-up for Englishman Pendrey, who worked as No2 to Strachan in all of his club management roles.

 

Strachan guided Southampton to the 2003 FA Cup Final before winning every domestic honour with Celts in a four-year spell at Parkhead.

 

Scotland lie rock bottom of Group A after collecting just two points from their first four qualifying ties.

 

Levein, who is still in dispute with the SFA over his pay-off, lost his job after those results.

 

Now Strachan will seek an urgent improvement when he takes over.

 

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/feeds/smartphone/scotland/4744529/Strach-to-the-future.html#ixzz2I1CGohJb

[Gribz 743]

The World Cup will probably be out of reach now due to Levein messing up, so the rest of the campaign can be for Strachan to install is his ideas then go for Euro 2016. If the SFA had the balls to do this at the start of the campaign then we'd have had a great chance to go to Brazil.