Steven Naismith has ruled himself out of the running for the Scotland manager’s job – but admitted he would be prepared to step in on a temporary basis if the SFA have not replaced Steve Clarke by the time the Nations League gets underway in September.
Naismith, who was one of Clarke’s assistant coaches during the national team’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign and at the tournament finals in the United States this summer, has been tipped to replace his fellow Ayrshireman by some pundits.
Speaking at a William Hill promotional event in Glasgow today, the former Hearts manager stressed that he has been involved in discussions with the SFA about their football structure and is keen to remain involved in the set-up in some capacity in future whoever is brought in to lead the country forward.
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But he said, “In terms of a full-time role, I don't think that's something that I've considered. It's quite important you get the right person with good managerial experience, but who's also willing to continue making the improvements. For where we're at, I think that's the right way to go with that.
“I get a real enjoyment being part of the A squad, helping the younger players within the squad, passing on my experience. I'm here to help. Short-term, I'll do what I need to do and longer term I do definitely want to be part of the SFA. The likelihood is I'll still be involved somewhere.
“There's a load of variables. There's a new coach who’s going to come in and I don’t know whether he will want me involved. I'd be delighted to be involved but, having been a head coach myself, I totally understand that you've got people you might want to work with.”
Scotland will attempt to put their bitterly disappointing early exit from the World Cup behind them in their Nations League Group B1 matches against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia at the end of September and start of October.
The SFA, who have been inundated with expressions of interest in the manager’s position since Clarke stood down in the wake of the Group C defeat to Brazil last month, should have announced who the new manager is by then.
But Naismith said, “I've not been involved in any of those conversations. I think it's important you get the right man to be the manager. If that takes longer and they ask me, then I would definitely be comfortable enough to step in.
“I've played, I've coached, I've been a head coach at a club, so I do understand the roles and what's expected of you in those roles. But there's a bit of time. The main priority I think for everybody at the SFA is the A-squad manager at the moment.
“Craig [new SFA chief football officer Mulholland] has probably been busier than he envisaged he would be when he knew he was taking the role. He's got a lot to do. But that will take priority over everything else I'd imagine.”
The Tartan Army footsoldiers who flocked to the United States in their tens of thousands to cheer on Scotland in their first World Cup finals in 28 years last month were devastated when the national team failed to progress to the last 32.
Few of them mourned when Clarke, who signed a new four year deal with the SFA before the tournament, announced he was standing down once it was confirmed that Andy Robertson and his team mates would not be involved in the knockout rounds.
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But Naismith feels that supporters will look back on the former Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United assistant’s record-breaking seven year tenure favourably in future.
“The manager obviously got to a point where he felt the players needed a different voice or that he had gone as far as he could,” he said. “That is a personal decision and you have got to respect it. There could have been more there, but you have to respect the manager.
“But I do think in the coming years people will look back and say, ‘He was amazing’. When the decision was made everybody was gutted it was over and emotions were high. But when we look back with a clear view of what has happened in the last seven years then not one person in Scotland would not have bitten your hand off for it.”
Naismith has had time to reflect on Scotland’s underwhelming displays at the World Cup in recent weeks - and has predicted the players will be able to give a better account of themselves at the Euro 2028 finals if they qualify.
“It is maybe just that mentality of a half-second decision,” he said. “Do I have a pass forward? It looks a bit tight, I will play square. That phase of play then becomes different to what it could be. For me that improvement comes with constantly getting to tournaments. It becomes second nature without thinking.
“This squad will continue on. I expect us to get to the Euros. Can we make a bigger dent in the Euros than we did last time? I think we can. In four years’ time there will be big change in the squad. We have to make sure that we have guys in the squad who have that experience so that transition is smoother than a total rebuild at club level.”
Asked if he would be interested in replacing Scot Gemmill as Scotland Under-21 coach, Naismith said, “I've not even thought about it.
“There is going to be a change of structure. In this country, if somebody makes the A squad and goes back to the 21s, it's seen as a negative. But when you look at Belgium, you look at Norway, the movement between squads is normal. To us, there's a stigma there and that shouldn't happen.
“There's loads of things that I think we can do to maximize what we are. We're a small country who have maximized what we can do with the A squad. But how can we get the most out of everything to continue to progress and continue to produce players? There's going to be a change overall and that's an area that I'll maybe be involved in.”
Steven Naismith was speaking at the launch of William Hill's Final One Standing - Scottish football's ultimate free-to-play predictor game.
