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Scotland: Malky Mackay takes interim charge for Netherlands friendly

By Chris McLaughlinBBC Scotland Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments290

Malky Mackay
Malky Mackay won five Scotland caps as a player in 2004

Scottish FA performance director Malky Mackay is to take interim charge of the Scotland team, following Gordon Strachan's departure on Thursday.

The former Watford, Cardiff and Wigan manager, 45, will combine both jobs and take the team for the 9 November friendly with Netherlands at Pittodrie.

Strachan's time as Scotland manager ended by "mutual consent" after missing out on a World Cup play-off place.

Strachan, 60, had been in charge of the national side since January 2013.

Former Scotland defender Mackay, who also played for Celtic and Norwich, was appointed to his current role in December last year, succeeding Brian McClair.

Mackay was the subject of an English FA investigation in 2014 concerning text messages he had sent containing discriminatory language.

However, Mackay later apologised and underwent equality and diversity training, with his move to the SFA then backed by anti-racism groups.

On announcing Mackay's interim appointment and the upcoming friendly, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said it was "too premature to discuss" Strachan's long-term successor.

"Recruitment phase begins next week," he said. "It's difficult to put a timescale on replacement.

Stewart Regan
Regan says the SFA will "cast our net far and wide"

"We believe we will be able to compete to get the best person for this job.

"We are determined to have the right coach in place to lead Scotland to the European Championship in 2020.

"I think nationality is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. Whoever is the best candidate can throw their hat in the ring and, if they are the best candidate, we'll select them for the job.

"We are looking for the best person for this opportunity and we will cast the net as far and wide as we have to.

"Ultimately we are in a result business. We had a manager in place for five years coming up. He'd had two campaigns. When the board met to discuss Gordon's position after the defeats to England and Slovakia [in 2016], we backed the manager, but we backed the manager on the proviso that we made the [World Cup] play-offs.

"We didn't reach the play-offs and we felt it was time for a new coach to give us a new impetus with emerging talent coming through the Scottish game and give us a real chance to make Euro 2020."

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290 comments

  • Comment posted by footiefan81, at 14:41 13 Oct 2017

    If there was ever a man for international relations, it's Mackay.

  • Comment posted by Me, at 15:08 13 Oct 2017

    Are we going to keep making excuses for being a small nation. Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland,Wales, Iceland and on and on.

  • Comment posted by TommyF, at 14:58 13 Oct 2017

    Oh no he sent some jokes that were in bad taste. Lets slaughter everyone who makes a joke in bad taste and never let them have another job. Grow up children and get off the 'politically correct express'..although it seems most of you have a permanent seat on it. Seriously kids, take a long hard look at yourself and your joke history. Beyond contempt are what most of you whiny little brats are.

  • Comment posted by DonFitzg, at 14:49 13 Oct 2017

    Sad, really. Fletcher gets over that late chance, plants it in the net and Strachan's a success, getting the best out of what is, in reality, a fairly second-string squad. Misses, and Strachan's out. Can't see anyone doing better with what's available.

  • Comment posted by guzzie, at 15:36 13 Oct 2017

    Bare with me on this - the Scottish team is a major victim of the EPL.
    In the glory days of the 70's and 80's Scotlands best players honed their skills playing in England.
    Strachen was one along with Dalglish, Souness, Hanson, McClair, McQueen etc.
    Since the EPL players are now imported from the world over and Scottish players are left to labour away in their non competitive domestic league.

  • Comment posted by D1679291009231, at 14:41 13 Oct 2017

    "We want someone capable of getting to Euro 2020."

    Not sure there's much the manager can do about that whoever they are, the SFA need to sort out the one team monopoly of the league first or nothing will change...

  • Comment posted by toomuchinformationrequired, at 14:39 13 Oct 2017

    Better than Moyes

  • Comment posted by Rob T, at 17:43 13 Oct 2017

    As a Wigan fan I'm gobsmacked anybody would employ this bloke in any kind of footballing capacity. If ever there was a 'specialist in failure' it's good old Malky.

  • Comment posted by Red83, at 15:18 13 Oct 2017

    Why have we sacked Strachan and replaced him with someone who can only basically pick same players?? albeit please remember there are decent players outwith Celtic (esp Aberdeen!). Still no one is calling into account the pathetic role of the SFA in the demise of Scottish Football any total lack of a concrete forward thinking progressive plan to get us back on track. Complete deflection by SFA !

  • Comment posted by Phil1927, at 15:54 13 Oct 2017

    Speaking as a Cardiff City fan, at least you’ll get some semblance of organised football with a game plan. Just confiscate his mobile devices and don’t give him any email logins.

  • Comment posted by rdjm01, at 17:55 13 Oct 2017

    We will not qualify for 2020. Poor players. Poor managers. Strachan had something. It had taken five years to build it. We needed stability but they’ve smashed the wall down just before it was nearly built. All so they can justify they’re own existence. Time for Regan to go. How about that. Take some accountability for your failings to develop grass roots which is the root cause.

  • Comment posted by rdjm01, at 17:51 13 Oct 2017

    i just don’t understand why they’re lauding getting rid of Strachan. The guy was on a cracking run of form. How many Scottish teams have done 4 wins and two draws out of six? Carry that into the next qualifying campaign. Build momentum. By changing the manager your creating inertia. It’s the easy decision sacking the manager. Take the road less travelled. Grow a pair and be the differnece

  • Comment posted by Rainfordian, at 15:27 13 Oct 2017

    "the man is racist, homophobic and sexist"
    Well, they wanted someone to reflect Scottish society...

    It seems the SFA had their doubts too. Not quite as many boxes ticked when it came to Religious Bigotry as they'd hoped.

  • Comment posted by TheWengerbusiscoming, at 14:48 13 Oct 2017

    Bad news for Ikechi Anya

  • Comment posted by AndyB_MOT, at 15:05 13 Oct 2017

    Let's face it, the talent pool available to the Scotland manager is pretty limited. Strachan did well to get out of that team what he could.

    Can someone please explain to me how Mackay is expected to do any better?

  • Comment posted by soothsayer, at 17:06 13 Oct 2017

    Well done SFA. What a fine role model you have put in charge for the youngsters to look up to! Why not add insult to injury & get him to head up the kick out racism campaign. You really don't have a clue!

  • Comment posted by Rocker, at 15:37 13 Oct 2017

    Deck chairs on the Titanic. Scottish players need to be playing in more competitive leagues on a weekly basis. The great 70s Scotland side was 70 per cent English club players. The top Scottish players need to get on their bikes and play outside the SPL, like John Collins and Paul Lambert did. People mention Iceland as a template: most (possibly all) of their players are playing abroad.

  • Comment posted by Mikey78, at 18:46 13 Oct 2017

    This is getting beyond a joke now. Regan is in charge of the appointment process. This will be yet another uninspiring appointment. Seriously, why are Regan and Doncaster in their posts!! I know the clubs have to vote to get Doncaster out but this is ridiculous that these guys are still there 4 or 5 years after everyone was shouting for them to go. Get them out, restructure and get summer fitba

  • Comment posted by BB, at 17:08 13 Oct 2017

    It doesn't who they choose as manager, the real problem is that the vast majority of Scottish footballers are just not good enough to even achieve qualification to a major tournament. Wales are a bit better but still missed out, England may have qualified but I don't expect them to be much use in Russia. Bottom line is the quality of football on this island is pretty poor in my opinion.

  • Comment posted by McSporran, at 18:00 13 Oct 2017

    SFA are clowns. I could do a lot better myself.
    Sack the bloody lot of them and start again.

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