Only World Cup qualification is worth a bonus

Published on Saturday 6 September 2008 00:01

SCOTLAND'S World Cup footballers have agreed to renew an arrangement with the SFA that will ensure they receive no bonus payments for the qualifying series that begins today unless they reach South Africa in two years' time.

The amount of the bonus that would be due in the event of their progressing from Group 9 to the finals – their first major championship in 12 years – has yet to be finalised, although it is understood that an "accommodation" is not far away.

The association's office bearers, including chief executive Gordon Smith, are soon to have a meeting with the players' committee at which it is expected the details will be formalised.

"I think the players deserve great praise for this," said Smith, clearly delighted to have helped put in place the agreement that applied to the Euro 2008 campaign. "It's a fantastic attitude to have among a group of players that they will only accept a bonus they have earned through genuine success.

"That money can be spent in other areas, rather than paid out to the squad with each succeeding game. Qualification for the World Cup finals, of course, would ensure further revenue for the association – and for the players who have taken the national team there.

"Only results will decide the outcome of the campaign, but I feel we can qualify.

"Holland are obvious favourites, but the fight for second place is on. Remember, too, that Italy only made sure of second place in our European qualifying group in the very last match of the series."

Smith has taken personal criticism over the order of play in this qualifying, most specifically in arranging the double-header of away matches which starts here in Macedonia this afternoon. In his defence, he explained the difficulties at the dates meeting between the five countries in the section – Holland, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway and Scotland.

"Before that dates meeting," said Smith, "I consulted with Craig Brown, Walter Smith and Alex McLeish, all very experienced managers and all three previously in charge of the national team. All agreed that the first thing they wanted to avoid was a summer match in June, a very awkward time for Scotland, right after the end of a long domestic and European season.

"And the first ideal they all wanted was to have the last match against Holland – and at home. Well, we managed both objectives. The only thing we lost out on was that Macedonia would not agree to play their first match against us in Glasgow.

"There was no movement on that, and so that's how it is. Otherwise, I think we've done pretty well out of the arrangement."

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