SFA’s Stewart Regan in the frame for FA vacancy

The Scottish Football Association faces the prospect of losing its chief executive after it was claimed that Stewart Regan is in the running to become the Football Association’s general secretary.

Scottish FA Chief executive, Stewart Regan. Picture: John Devlin

The BBC reported that the 50-year-old Englishman is in contention to replace Alex Horne, who is due to vacate his position at the end of January. The FA advertised for the role last week, with the closing date for applications next month.

If Regan is successful, it would leave the SFA with another notable vacancy to fill after Mark Wotte unexpectedly quit as performance director in October.

Regan replaced Gordon Smith as SFA chief executive in July 2010 after leaving a similar post with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He had previous experience of working in football from helping rebrand the second tier of English Football into the Championship and was charged with helping implement a plan on the basis of an all-encompassing review of Scottish football by Henry McLeish, the former first minister, four years ago.

Since arriving at Hampden, Regan has had to steer Scottish football through a particularly turbulent period, which has included a referees’ strike, the financial demise of Rangers and Hearts, and overseeing plans for league reconstruction.

He has been criticised for various issues, but is believed to remain highly regarded in the corridors of power down south.

Regan’s appointment of 
Gordon Strachan as manager of the Scottish national team has proved to be a particular success following the underwhelming reigns of his predecessors. The Scots remain in a good position to qualify for Euro 2016.

Regan said in an interview last month: “Our Under-17s reached the last four in Europe. The 19s reached the elite round of the Uefa Championships. The 16s won the Victory Shield last season.

“There are lots of green shoots from the plan we put in place in 2011.’’