SFA must take their time to find a suitable replacement

Scotland have little hope of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, but that will not prompt a reluctance among managers to make their interest in the position known. Supporters are already agreed that Gordon Strachan should step into the job, but popularity alone cannot be one of the decisive considerations.

It took three weeks for the SFA board to agree to remove Levein from his position following a disappointing start to the World Cup qualifying campaign. That sort of indecision tells of a fraught period of consideration, but there is no demand for a swifter resolution in appointing the new manager. Since the 2014 campaign already seems forlorn, the next man into the job will be in place for the Euro 2016 qualifiers, so the choice needs to be measured.

By then, it will have been 18 years since Scotland last reached the finals of a major tournament. Cynicism among fans has become ingrained, and Levein suffered from a lack of empathy. He underestimated the resentment that would arise among supporters to fielding a team with no strikers against the Czech Republic early in his reign, but then lurched towards over-praising his players and exaggerating the quality at his disposal. His successor needs to be more savvy in managing a nation's expectations.

Scotland are now looking for their eighth manager in 10 years, and there might never have been so many available figures. Since Levein is to be paid in full to the end of the qualifying campaign, there is unlikely to be the resources to pay compensation, so options will be curtailed to those who are free. The preference in international football is still generally to not appoint foreigners, but that does not reduce the array of potential appointments too severely. It might even be acknowledged that the job would only appeal to Scots since the squad is not overflowing with world-class performers. Patriotism could be the first requirement.

Any one of Strachan, Alex McLeish, Walter Smith, Joe Jordan, Billy Davies, Owen Coyle, or Jimmy Calderwood could make a worthy claim for the post. Since Smith is seriously considering an offer to return to Rangers as a director, Strachan is the frontrunner and he has the personality to revive the mood of the nation. It is an unusual task to accept, since this qualifying campaign is already all but beyond reach, but defeatism has to be shunned without seeming oblivious to reality. As a manager with Champions League experience, and having won titles at Celtic, Strachan would also command respect among the players.

McLeish, too, exudes authority, even if he once left the job to take up an offer from Birmingham City. Jordan has less frontline experience, but is shrewd and passionate, while Davies could be guaranteed to provide dramatic moments. He is a clever and proven manager, though, and the SFA need to choose wisely, since the appointment is not solely about appeasing the Tartan Army.

The job can be gruelling, with periods of inactivity punctuated by short spells of high intensity and scrutiny, which can addle even the most experienced figures. McLeish at least has the benefit of knowing every aspect of the position, having thrived in the role previously. There are other considerations to be borne, though, since Scotland now have a technical director in Mark Wotte and the national set-up is supposed to work as whole, with the best players fast-tracked through to the senior squad. A viable working relationship with the Dutchman is necessary, but he may also offer Stewart Regan and Campbell Ogilvie his opinions during the recruitment process.

Billy Stark will take the squad for next week's friendly in Luxembourg, but the next assignment is not until February, when Estonia visit Pittodrie ahead of the qualifying double-header against Wales and Serbia the following month.

Nobody would demand a quick appointment when competitive demands are not an immediate concern. Regan's own authority was weakened during the summer, when he irked many member clubs with his language and stance during negotiations about Rangers' future, and this moment presents an opportunity to redeem himself, but also to confirm dissenting views if he and the SFA board make the wrong appointment.

The successor will not be inheriting a crisis, since the mood among the players was strong and committed towards Levein and that unity survived the run of results that effectively ended the country's hopes of reaching the World Cup finals in Brazil. Levein overplayed his hand by talking so extravagantly about the quality of his attacking options then watching his team perform with such indecision going forward. There are reasonable players available, although options are limited at the back, but no outstanding talents to choose from.

A manager who can maximise his resources, judge and influence the mood of the nation, and stir the commitment of the Scotland fans is the ideal candidate. Some candidates fit the criteria better than others. The skill lies in assessing them, and judgments must be clear and bold. The national team is in a vulnerable position, since this appointment will determine how the next four years unfold.

Taken from the Herald