Alex McLeish's Scotland fate was sealed in Kazakhstan as players and fans lost faith

Scotland must now find a replacement ahead of the qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium in June
McLeish has left his role as Scotland manager after just 12 games in charge Credit: ACTION IMAGES

The decision of the Scottish Football Association to part company with Alex McLeish as Scotland manager came into the category of news long overdue. McLeish’s fate was sealed by Scotland’s ignominious start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, the 3-0 defeat in Nursultan by a Kazakhstan side rated 117th in the world rankings and it remained so although he supervised a 2-0 win in San Marino, the fourth time the Scots had achieved that score in the microstate.

The SFA came under immediate pressure to sack the manager and the Tartan Army made it clear that they had lost faith in his leadership. Marc McNulty, the Hibernian striker who won his first two caps in the double-header even declared that he thought he had heard his father booing him at the end of the game in San Marino.

The gap of three months between those fixtures and Scotland’s next qualifying dates, at home to Cyprus and away to Belgium in June, however, gave the SFA breathing space, not only to deal with McLeish but to limit damage to those considered responsible for appointing him – Alan McRae, the association’s president, and his successor, vice-president, Rod Petrie. They had initially targeted Michael O’Neill but a prolonged, undignified and ultimately fruitless pursuit of the Northern Ireland manager cost Stewart Regan, the then SFA chief executive, his job. 

McRae had organised McLeish’s testimonial season at Aberdeen in 1989 and did not help his image by saying last year that he had done so ‘in 1889’. It is widely believed by the Tartan Army - and by some within the SFA - that there was an element of an old pals’ act when McRae, supported by Petrie, appointed McLeish in February last year after another dilatory attempt at recruitment in the case of Walter Smith, the former Rangers manager.

Throughout the 107 days that followed Gordon Strachan’s departure as Scotland boss, McLeish had been available. Indeed, he had not worked since being sacked by the Egyptian club, Zamalek, 10 games from the end of their season in 2016. That alone would have ensured that his appointment would lack allure, but McLeish was also the target of allegations of bad faith by the Scotland support because of the decision to end his first spell in charge of the national side by quitting for Birmingham in November 2007.

A 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan was the nadir of McLeish's brief reign
A 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan was the nadir of McLeish's brief reign Credit: REUTERS

Strachan was no favourite of the fans either but he had come close to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup finals in a campaign that included a thrilling 2-2 draw with England at Hampden Park and, in his 12 games in charge, McLeish never came close to igniting the fervour that greeted the Scots’ performance in the Auld Enemies clash.

In his defence, McLeish steered Scotland to the guarantee of a Euro 2020 play-off place via the convoluted Nations League route. Moreover, his pool for the games in Kazakhstan and San Marino did not contain a striker who had scored a single international goal, but the feeling that some experienced players had lost faith was heightened when the Rangers goalkeeper, Allan McGregor, announced that he would no longer play for Scotland, on the even of the squad announcement.

Steven Fletcher, with 10 goals from 32 appearances, was also not included, on the grounds that he was ‘managing an injury’ but the Sheffield Wednesday striker not only played for his club while the Scotland squad assembled, he scored against Bolton and Blackburn. The appearance of a foundering ship became reality in Nursultan, since when the overriding question for the SFA and Tartan army is who will be in charge for the meetings with Cyprus and Belgium.

Within minutes of the confirmation of McLeish’s departure, the bookies’ favourites were Steve Clarke, whose tenure at Kilmarnock has been impressive, David Moyes – unemployed since leaving West Ham last year – and Gordon Strachan, with Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes posted further out along with Alex Neil and Michael O’Neill.

Following this morning’s board meeting, meanwhile, the SFA chief executive, released a statement which read: “The decision to part company was not an easy one, especially given Alex's status as a Scotland Hall of Fame member, earning 77 international caps, having played in three World Cups and taken charge of the national team for two spells.

McLeish steered Scotland to the guarantee of a Euro 2020 play-off place via the Nations League
McLeish steered Scotland to the guarantee of a Euro 2020 play-off place via the Nations League Credit: PA

“It was only taken after full consideration by the board and after an honest and respectful conversation between myself and Alex earlier in the week. Ultimately, the performances and results as a whole in the past year - and, in particular, the manner of the defeat in Kazakhstan - did not indicate the progress expected with a squad we believe to be capable of achieving more.

“With that in mind, it was agreed that we would seek to recruit a new management team to take us forward for the remainder of European Qualifying campaign.

“At this point I would like to pay tribute to Alex for the good grace with which he has accepted the decision and for remaining unstinting in his support of the team for the remainder of the campaign. It befits his status as a Scotland legend and Hall of Fame inductee.

“We firmly believe we have the potential to recover from the opening group defeat and unlock the potential of this exciting squad of players for the remainder of the campaign, safe in the knowledge we also have the play-offs as an additional route to UEFA Euro 2020.

“With Hampden Park one of the host city enues for the 60th Anniversary of the European Championships, we are determined to ensure our supporters can watch the national team participate in UEFA Euro 2020.”

McLeish also released a statement and said “I am grateful for the opportunity to have managed my country for a second time and leave knowing that I gave my all in the pursuit of success. I am proud that together we finished top of our UEFA Nations League group and qualified for the UEFA EURO 2020 play-offs, which gives us a real opportunity to reach a major tournament for the first time in over 20 years.

Scotland must now find a replacement ahead of the qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium in June
Scotland must now find a replacement ahead of the qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium in June Credit: PA

“I am also pleased to have given many younger players a first taste of international football that will stand them – and the country – in good stead for the future. I would like to thank those players who showed a passion for wearing the dark blue, my assistants for their contribution over the past year. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the entire national team backroom staff and my friends and colleagues at the Scottish FA.

“Finally, I would like to thank the Scotland fans for their unwavering support of the team and look forward to taking my place among them in the future.”

The one charge that cannot be laid at McLeish’s door is that he failed to cast his net wide to catch a shoal of potential Scotland players of the future. He used 46 players in his second spell in charge, almost doubling the 26 of his first tenure, although he was short of the 58 who won caps during Strachan’s four-year reign.

As for potential successors, Clarke has already indicated, through Telegraph Sport, that the time might not yet be ripe for him to move into international management. “I feel unfulfilled in England. I think I’m a decent manager and a very good coach. I’ve still got a lot to offer some club who will maybe take a chance on me,” he said.

“I’ve been very open with Kilmarnock fans since the day I came in. This isn’t a lifetime project. I came in to stabilise the club and push them forward but I’ve said all along that at some stage I want to go back to England.”

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