Jackie McNamara reckons Scotland need a new boss to stand a chance of qualifying for Euro 2020 – and is backing Steve Clarke to lead us there.
The former Celtic and Scotland star believes the Kilmarnock manager’s organisation skills set him apart from other candidates in the running to replace the under-fire Alex McLeish whose fate could be sealed at an SFA board meeting on Thursday.
Scotland opened their qualifying campaign with a catastrophic 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan before limping to a 2-0 win over San Marino.
Games against Cyprus and Belgium are fast approaching and it is unclear whether McLeish will still be in charge for the fixtures as the SFA has failed to publicly back the boss in the aftermath of the shocking start.
McNamara, who was capped 33 times and played at France 98, says change is needed now for the current squad’s potential to be realised.
He said: “The SFA need to take control of this and it’s disappointing there’s nothing coming from them. Unless things change I don’t think we’ll get out this qualification group.
“I think a fresh approach and new management is needed. It’s not just recent results, it’s the way we look on the pitch. When you watch a game you can normally, at least, see what a team is trying to do and what their method or strategy is.
“In our last two games and in some last year, especially away to Israel, it looked like the team had just been told to go and play. We looked like a team of individuals and change is needed to take us forward, because we have players who are good enough.
“Everyone keeps mentioning Steve Clarke for the job and yeah, why not? His teams are organised and he’s maximised Kilmarnock’s potential with limited resources.
“His teams look like they know what they’re doing no matter who they play and he’s over-achieved with them. He should be manager of the year in Scotland.
“He’s maximised that Killie squad and Scotland have some great players, they just need to be played in a system that suits us.”
McNamara, a natural right-footer, plied his trade at both left and right-back during his career.
He feels rather than leaving Kieran Tierney on the bench behind captain Andy Robertson, there’s “no reason” he couldn’t be utilised on the right side of defence.
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McNamara said: “I have seen Tierney play right-back and he was good at it. I’m right-footed but played left back for Celtic during my last few years there.
“There are plenty of right-footed left-wingers and that would benefit Tierney playing at right-back.
“I don’t think there is any reason he can’t play there until we have someone who naturally fills that position and plays at a good level. It’s a position up for grabs just now.”
●Jackie was speaking on the Hampden Roar podcast which is available on iTunes, Spotify and Google.
