Vogts' long goodbye continues after another stay of execution

Published on Wednesday 27 October 2004 00:09

BERTI Vogts’ long goodbye to the Scotland manager’s job continued yesterday when he was given another stay of execution by the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

The SFA had been expected to sack the German and end his two less than glorious years as national coach.

But a meeting of the 11 board members did not materialise, leaving Mr Vogts’ future, and Scotland’s vain hope of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, in limbo.

The SFA’s continuing inaction, at a time when the national team is at its lowest ebb, was swiftly condemned.

Hamish Husband, one of the leaders of Scotland’s Tartan Army, said: "We need an end to cloudy language and we need to know what is happening, and when it will happen! This week? Next week? It’s time to know and only the SFA can tell us."

Scottish football and the national team’s reputation have become a "laughing stock", according to an expert in international crisis management.

Jack Irvine, the managing director of Media House, a public relations group in the UK and United States, said: "This is no longer just about Berti Vogts.

"You might have thought Scotland’s footballing image could not have got much worse, but the woeful mishandling of this affair by the SFA has ensured that it has.

"In any terms, the whole board should go, as a result of it."

David Taylor, the chief executive, and John McBeth, the SFA president, met on Friday to discuss the team’s disastrous World Cup campaign, which came to a head two weeks ago with the 1-1 draw in Moldova that left Scotland with only two points from three games.

The SFA had the chance yesterday to write the last chapter in the saga of Mr Vogts’ stewardship, but many commentators believe it lost its nerve.

The board was due to meet and deal with the dilemma, but a spokesman said: "There will be no meeting of the board and no statement on [the position] of Berti Vogts.

"The performance of Scotland in the World Cup qualifying campaign is under review."

Leading football figures criticised the SFA’s inaction.

Gordon McQueen, the former Leeds, Manchester United and Scotland star, said: "It is time the SFA acted, if only for the sake of the new man.

"He must be allowed to get the best out of the players ahead of the friendly with Sweden and the upcoming qualifying game with Italy.

"The SFA have to act, now, and let Berti go. It’s down to them."

And Mr Husband, of the Association of Tartan Army Clubs (ATAC), said: "It’s a mistake typical of the SFA. Only they can bring this to a speedy resolution.

"It is a foregone conclusion that Berti Vogts is going. Why are they not acting to end the uncertainty for him, the fans and the team?"

However, Craig Brown, the former Scotland manager, said Mr McBeth, the president, was a "man of great integrity" and would observe "protocol".

In an age when football managers are sacked in car parks after a handful of poor results, Mr Brown said it was vital to ensure that the departure of Mr Vogts was conducted properly.

He added: "I know what it is like to be waiting to learn your future from a meeting. It has to be done properly and I would rely on Mr McBeth to achieve that.

"He is an honourable man who will not be pressurised and at the end of it, he will be able to sleep at night."

Reports suggested yesterday that the delay in dismissing Mr Vogts was over compensation.

The SFA spokesman added: "I cannot comment on that."

But Andy Gray, the football pundit, who was capped 20 times for Scotland, in spite of his career on both sides of the Border being plagued by injury, said at least five Scotland "managers" were waiting in the wings for a chance to be the national coach.

He added: "People say I am anti-Vogts. I am not. I am anti-foreigner in charge of Scotland.

"We have Walter Smith, Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan, Joe Jordan and George Graham, five huge Scots."

Mr McQueen added the "new man" deserved a fighting chance and had to be a Scot. He said: "I am traditional; I think a Scot should be in charge. I have been against the [Vogts’] appointment from the start. I believe the national coach should be from the country he manages.

"[Sven Goran] Eriksson is doing an OK job in England, but no better than an English manager would.

"In Scotland’s case, the SFA must get its act together. There have been too many public relation blunders and the team has made too little progress.

"We need decisive action and a new manager should be in charge for the Sweden friendly."

That new manager should be Walter Smith, according to Craig Burley, a former Celtic and Scotland player.

He said: "I’d appoint Smith ahead of [Gordon] Strachan because I believe Smith is the better man for the job. The players are duty bound to say they are behind Vogts, but can you believe they want to play for him?"

Mr Brown insisted Vogts is not to blame for poor motivation. "The team should be motivated wearing the jersey and playing for their country," he said.