Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell said that the primary focus of the national team is getting to the next World Cup when questioned on the future of Steve Clarke.
The 61-year-old's contract expires following the conclusion of the tournament, which will take place next year across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
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Maxwell was recently asked by Sky Sports if he expects the upcoming qualification campaign for the World Cup to be Clarke's last as head coach.
"Steve is absolutely desperate to get us to a World Cup," he said.
"We've got a squad that, when fully fit and firing, is very much capable of getting us to a World Cup.
"It's the final piece in the jigsaw for Steve and the players."
Clarke previously admitted that there is a '75 per cent' chance he won't renew his deal following the next World Cup.
Maxwell was quizzed on whether the SFA will offer the boss an extension: "That's a conversation for the time," he answered.
"We've been very clear throughout this that we'll have those discussions when the time is right.
"There's always an element of that [planning ahead for a new head coach] if I'm doing my job properly.
"There's always an eye on who's available because managers come and go for a variety of different reasons.
"There's always an eye on who's available, but the focus at the moment is on Steve and the team and making sure they get to USA, Mexico and Canada next year."
Scotland kick off their World Cup qualification campaign against Denmark in Copenhagen this September.
