Support grows for Strachan as SFA searches for new boss
Support for Gordon Strachan to be named the next Scotland manager was beginning to grow last night, as the Scottish Football Association begin their search for Craig Levein's successor.
Levein was sacked on Monday following a poor start to the World Cup qualifying campaign, which leaves the Scots bottom of their group without a win from four games.
Former Celtic and Middlesbrough boss Strachan has emerged as the bookmakers' favourite to fill the vacancy and already has the backing of Scotland defender Gary Caldwell and former national team boss Alex McLeish.
"He's a passionate manager and a very passionate Scot," Caldwell told Sky Sports News.
"I had three good years with him at Celtic and he achieved great things there.
"He's been out of management for a while and I'm sure he will be hungry.
"I think the national team job needs a passionate guy. It is not an easy job.
"I'm sure he is a guy who will come with a real passion and do well for Scotland."
McLeish - who had a spell as Scotland manager in 2007 - was touted as a possible replacement for Levein.
But he moved quickly to distance himself from a return to the hotseat, opting to throw his support behind Strachan instead.
He told talkSPORT: "Gordon Strachan is a pretty good candidate to me.
"He's had success at club level with Celtic. Whether he wants to come away from the television role he's got - because he's very good on TV - would be a big decision for him to make."
McLeish added: "I left the national team to take up club football, I felt I was missing the day-to-day stuff.
"I'm still of that mind. I wouldn't like to be unfair to the Scotland fans in terms of coming back to the job. A lot of people would maybe think I was a hypocrite."
Motherwell boss Stuart McCall also ruled himself out of the running, believing Strachan, McLeish, Walter Smith, Owen Coyle and Joe Jordan are all better qualified for the job right now.
He said: "If it was to come about in 10 years' time it would certainly be a job I would be honoured to do.
"It would be an absolute honour. Despite the accent, I'm as patriotic as any Scot.
"The biggest playing highlight I've ever had was making my debut. I managed to play 40 times and it's something that will always live with me.
"But there are five greater candidates out there than myself, with greater experience and knowledge.
"There are some terrific candidates. I think it's a job for an experienced manager."
Interim national team coach Billy Stark will name the squad for the friendly against Luxembourg on November 14 at a media conference at Hampden later today.
