Gordon Strachan will make a decision over his future as the Scotland manager before next weekend, with the 58-year-old using the build-up to the dead rubber against Gibraltar to offer the most positive indication yet that he is of a mind to continue.
Strachan’s refusal to openly commit to another campaign, both before and after Thursday’s draw with Poland, which ended Scottish hopes of qualification for Euro 2016, triggered speculation that he may walk away. The former Celtic manager’s contract expires when Group D concludes at full-time against Gibraltar in Faro.
Speaking in the Algarve , Strachan reaffirmed his enjoyment of the international job. His demeanour was even more telling than his words. “I don’t have to deal with the nonsense you get day to day [in club football],” Strachan said. “I basically get a good bunch of lads who feel good about themselves and just want train and get on with it. I don’t have to deal with the rest of it.”
Strachan will use next week to speak to those around him, primarily backroom staff and family, in what can readily be interpreted as a process of seeking confirmation that he should sign another deal with the Scottish FA. “There are a right lot of people I have to speak to,” he added. “There’s a lot to be done. It’s just making sure it’s the right thing.”
The association is anxious for Strachan to continue amid what they believe has been progress since he took office in January 2013. As long as he has an appetite to carry on, contract talks will be a formality.
England are among the opposition in Scotland’s 2018 World Cup section. It kicks off for the Scots in a meeting with Malta next September. For now, it would be a surprise if Strachan is not in the dug-out.
“What I’ve liked about watching this team is I’ve actually enjoyed watching them,” Strachan said. “As a football manager, there are ways you can make sure you don’t get beat, you try your best. But I enjoy watching a lot of the stuff they do. I think a lot of them have got to be pleased with themselves.”
Strachan will implement changes for the meeting with Gibraltar, with the Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon among those with a strong chance of starting. Jordan Rhodes, James McArthur and Leigh Griffiths did not travel to Portugal. Pertinently, and with hope of an altogether different scenario in mind, an estimated 8,000 Scottish supporters have done.
“The purpose of the game is that everybody gets another Scotland cap and we get the chance to play in front of the biggest away Scotland support ever seen,” said the manager. “This has given me another two or three days away with the players. I would not have liked it if we ended after the game on Thursday and we had just dispersed into the night.
“I think the way we are all feeling is that this doesn’t matter but it really does matter. I am sitting here picking a team and I might have just thought ‘whatever’ but no, you start to think, ‘Here we go, want to do it properly, maybe have a look at a couple of things we have not tried previously.’”
Neither Gibraltar nor Scotland trained at the Estádio Algarve on Saturday because of a soaked pitch. The match, however, is not regarded as being in danger.
Possible Scotland side to face Gibraltar (4-2-3-1) Gordon; Hutton, Greer, Berra, Robertson; Brown, Shinnie; Dorrans, Naismith, Maloney; Fletcher.
