Stuart McCall set to quit Scotland for club return

STUART McCall is set to give up his role as Gordon Strachan’s assistant with the Scotland national team if he can get back into club management in England.

McCall, 51, who has been part of set-up since January 2013, is desperate to get the boots and the tracksuit back on and work every day on the training ground.

He feels that his next managerial hot seat is likely to be below Championship level, which would mean he would have to relinquish his ­Scotland role as there is no international break for League One and Two clubs.

McCall worked for three years until 2010 as Bradford City ­manager in difficult circumstances and ­created a minor miracle at Motherwell with two second-place finishes, a third-place finish, a Scottish Cup final and European football before quitting last year.

He came close to dragging Rangers back to the Premiership as interim boss last season but saw his side thrashed 6-1 in the play-off final by the Steelmen and was overlooked for the Ibrox job in favour of Mark Warburton.

However, he is ready to get going again now, even although he admits it will be a wrench to leave the national team.

McCall said: “I’m at a stage where I have an enthusiasm and desire to get back into managing and coaching.

“If I’m looking to go down south it probably won’t be in the Championship, it will be lower than that. And if I go lower than that I won’t be able to do Scotland.

“I’m getting to the stage now where I’m eager and enthusiastic to get back in. Over the past couple of weeks because I have been out and about I want to get back.

“It’s got to a stage now, for my own wellbeing, I want to get in.

“I want to get back to doing what I think I can do and enjoy it. You can only watch so many games, and do so much media. I’m really ready now.”

Sheffield United, where McCall played and coached between 2002 and 2007, wanted him to take over two seasons ago but one of the ­reasons he didn’t go was the ­prospect of losing his Scotland job.

McCall said: “That was a little bit of a consideration. Scotland had the chance of qualifying for the first time in a long time and I wanted to be there for that.

“But I don’t have regrets over ­Sheffield United. I had my best ­season at Motherwell that year when we clinched second at Pittodrie.”