The last man standing

Candidates for Scotland job are dropping like flies, so could McGhee do the job part-time?

WITH candidates appearing to drop by the wayside on each succeeding day, Motherwell manager Mark McGhee is once again the narrow favourite for the vacant position of manager of Scotland, though the man himself has placed strict conditions on his candidacy.

Last night, after seeing Motherwell lose to St Mirren, McGhee issued another statement tying himself to the Fir Park club to the end of the season. He denied that the speculation over his position could have affected his lacklustre players, saying: "I don't think the speculation affected them, I think it's just a bad day at the office."

He then added his strongest words yet on the situation: "As part of the discussions I had (with the SFA], I told them that I would require to stay at Motherwell until the end of the season, so if they do want me it's going to have to be that."

Asked what had the SFA had last said to him, McGhee replied: "Don't phone us, we'll phone you."

Before those remarks were made, bookmakers Ladbrokes had installed the former international player as 5-4 favourite, and pushed out previous 'jolly', Graeme Souness, to 6-4 from odds-on. Southampton boss George Burley is a close third favourite at 2-1 in from 9-2.

The topsy-turvy nature of the betting reflects the rollercoaster events of the past few days in which one candidate and then another has seemingly found reasons not to take the job.

Billy Davies was first to drop out, and then of the four named candidates, Burley spoke of his aims at Southampton, Souness allegedly doesn't fancy the salary, and McGhee has now reiterated his 'see you in the summer' verdict.

The SFA insist that Tommy Burns is indeed still a candidate, but he has surely blown his chances by refusing the interview process. That's tough on Burns, but SFA chief executive Gordon Smith is sticking by the Association's policies on recruitment, and they insist on a proper process which includes interviews.

The SFA would appear, therefore, to have a problem in giving the job to any of their four chosen candidates by the self-imposed deadline of the end of the month. If it were not so serious, it would be laughable, not least because some of the speculation about the candidates has been almost incredible. Rumours circulated in Edinburgh this week from sources with the proverbial "impeccable connections" to Souness's remaining family in the capital that the former Rangers manager had told people he was getting the job.

Hence a queue of people trooping into their local branch of Ladbrokes and plonking down their wads of cash. Sufficient money was wagered in Edinburgh alone for Ladbrokes to cut their odds to a mere 1-2, and spokesman Robin Hutchison said at the time: "The Souness gamble is steadily growing day by day and we are having to cut him to restrict our liabilities."

The very next day came the reports from well-connected correspondents that Souness was no longer interested because the supposed salary of £350,000 maximum couldn't keep him in Armani suits. Punters or pundits – who do you believe?

McGhee's stance makes any Hampden role for him of necessity a part-time job until autumn when competitive international football begins again with the World Cup 2010 qualifiers.

But is that such a problem? More interestingly, has McGhee's stance inadvertently opened the door to Hampden for Souness?

There are plenty of precedents for the job being a part-time role for managers of undoubted status. Sir Matt Busby, Jock Stein and Sir Alex Ferguson all managed Scotland on a part-time basis in the 1950s, 1960s and 1980s respectively, and indeed the job only became full-time with the appointment of Bobby Brown in 1967.

The arrival of Stein as a full-time manager in 1978 led to the unedifying spectacle of the great man driving himself around Scotland to hand out SFA competition prizes, as there was not a lot for him to do in the days of fewer international matches. Since then, Scotland managers such as Craig Brown and Andy Roxburgh always had additional SFA coaching responsibilities which none of the four candidates would really welcome.

It is known that Walter Smith and Alex McLeish both wanted to return to the club scene not just because of cash but because there was little for them to do outside of the squad sessions and preparations for international matches. And going to watch players is no longer a necessity with so many matches televised.

McGhee has made his terms clear while George Burley might not want to combine both jobs – "My aim is to take Saints back to the Premier League, and that is still my aim," he has stated.

Which leaves Souness. If money really is a sticking point, then Souness could combine his lucrative television appearances with the Scotland role, even if it does pay less in a year than Wayne Rooney earns in a month. The Scotland managership would also give Souness the stature he needs in the game, while relieving the SFA of the necessity of paying him over the odds.

There has been criticism of the manner in which the recruitment process is taking place. By accident rather than design, that procedure may well have arrived at a possible compromise which McGhee would like, but which might suit Souness even more.

CONTENDERS

Mark McGhee
Pros: Experienced and articulate, he has improved almost every club he has managed. A charismatic leader.
Cons: Doesn't want to leave Motherwell until the end of the season. SFA would have to accommodate him on a part-time basis until then.
Odds: 5-4

Graeme Souness
Pros: Available. The only one on the short-list without a club. Has won major trophies in Scotland, England and abroad. Managed in five countries, nearly always at the top level.
Cons: Combative personality has led to several bust-ups with top players. Fared poorly at his last posting, at Newcastle. Suggested this week that he could earn more by sticking to punditry.
Odds: 6-4

George Burley
Pros: Impressive track record at melding disparate parts into an effective team. Enjoyed success at Ipswich over the long term and at Hearts in the (very) short term. Players like him.
Cons: Southampton probably pay more than Scotland. Left Derby and Hearts under a cloud.
Odds: 2-1

Tommy Burns
Pros: International coaching experience as assistant to Berti Vogts and Walter Smith.
Cons: Suggested this week that he doesn't want to go through interview process. Tainted by association by the Vogts era.
Odds: 6-1