Smith has to be No1 pick for Scots job, says McCoist

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 23:02

WALTER Smith should be at the top of the shortlist for the Scotland manager's job, according to his Rangers assistant, Ally McCoist.

Reports claim Smith has ruled himself out of a return to the post he vacated in January 2007 but McCoist is not convinced his mentor has definitely finished with the national team.

Although Smith's Ibrox contract expires in January, the 61-year-old has stated he will work without one if necessary.

"I don't know if he has had enough," McCoist said. "It is news to me that he withdrew his name; I didn't know that either.

"With his experience and what he did the first time, he would have to be at the top of any list that I would be picking as a supporter."

Smith has been priming McCoist as his replacement but the former Rangers striker laughed off suggestions he could speed up the succession by persuading his mentor to return to Scotland. "That would be far too scheming for me!" said McCoist. "I think the day is yet to come when Walter really listens to me to that extent. He makes his own mind up and he seems to be doing pretty well at that. I'll give him any advice he needs but I'm not sure he will be requiring it."

McCoist will not be putting himself forward to replace George Burley. "No, I don't think I'll be doing that," he said. "However, it would be nice to be asked before you turn it down."

But he still sees the job as a "magical opportunity" for someone else.

"Obviously, it's a testing time for the national team," he said. "Things haven't gone according to plan as George wanted. That goes without saying.

"Speaking as a supporter, it's high time we started to get back on a level keel because the last few games have been disappointing to say the least. I don't

really go along with the theory that we don't have the players anymore.

"It goes without saying that we don't have a Souness or Dalglish but there are certainly good enough players in the squad to pick up."

Craig Levein quickly emerged as the favourite for the post but McCoist believes there are a string of worthy candidates, including Jim Jefferies, who brings his Kilmarnock team to Ibrox on Clydesdale Bank Premier League duty tomorrow.

"Craig has done a great job at Dundee United," McCoist said. "Has he done a better job than Jim Jefferies at Kilmarnock? I don't know. These are the arguments the boys at the SFA will have to throw about."

Jefferies, 58, admitted earlier in the week he was "flattered" to be in the frame and he said yesterday that he was getting used to coping with mere speculation. "It's not something I lose any sleep over," he said. "It's part and parcel of football and it will be the same for everyone linked with the job.

"I had it before the last time the Scotland job came up and had to deal with it then. The older you get, the better you deal with it. The speculation will be great for the media and there will be names popping out here, there and everywhere. The list will grow every day. I just get on with it."

Meanwhile, Alex McLeish ruled out a possible return as Scotland manager but insisted the job is "not a poisoned chalice".

McLeish enjoyed a successful spell in charge of the national side before making the switch to Birmingham two years ago. But he has no desire at this stage of his career to return.

McLeish said: "I said after the World Cup exit that the Scottish FA (Football Association) should back George but you knew he would be scrutinised in every game and, if he didn't get results in the first couple, he would be under pressure again.

"Unfortunately, results never went for George. Circumstances were difficult but no one has sympathy for that side of things, like injuries and not being able to pick your best players."

McLeish continued: "Is it a job I would want to return to now? No. I've got a fantastic challenge here at Birmingham. I loved my time with Scotland, a fantastic journey which was part of my education in football and it is a phenomenal honour to manage your country. But I am very happy at Birmingham."

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee branded the post "a rotten job" following Burley's departure, but McLeish disagrees.

"The Scotland job is not a poisoned chalice," he said. "It would be a great honour for someone to take the job and anyone with any ambition would say they can make it better. I'm sure the SFA will still target managers who are in jobs and I am sure they will be targeting Scots. If a foreign coach came in, everyone would want to back him but it is more likely to be a Scot."