Scotland boss Clarke 'hasn't had contract offer'

· BBC Sport

ByKheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Published

National coach Steve Clarke says the Scottish FA have yet to offer him a new contract and that the ball is now in their court regarding his future.

Clarke, 62, will be out of contract after the men's team's first appearance at a World Cup since 1998, with the Scots up against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in June.

The former Kilmarnock and West Brom boss has overseen three qualifications with Scotland, including two European Championship appearances.

And he said: "Obviously the thing in my head is what do I do next, where do I go next, what's next for me?

"I've qualified for three tournaments out of four. I think that's a pretty decent record."

And he added: "Obviously, I'd like to do a little bit better at the tournament this summer, but that's something that we can address when we get out there.

"Do the Scottish FA think that I'm the guy that can go forward and progress the squad into the next tournament and hopefully set us up for a further World Cup qualification in four years' time? That's what they have to decide.

"At the moment I don't really have a choice to make because they haven't put an offer in front of me and none of the club sides have put an offer in front of me either. I'm just sitting here talking to you guys, having a good time.

"I've just got to sit and see if any club approaches me between now and the end of the season, and then I'll have a decision to make."

Clarke visited potential sites in the United States before settling on Charlotte and Fort Lauderdale as the two main bases for his squad this summer.

Scotland will play Haiti (14 June) and Morocco (19 June) in Massachusetts and finish Group C in Miami against Brazil (24 June).

"I always wanted to go to a World Cup with my country, so I've now done that," said the former Chelsea and St Mirren defender, who won six Scotland caps.

Asked whether the ball was now in the SFA's court, Clarke was happy to agree.

"Yes, I think it is," he said. "I've had a very brief conversation with Ian [Maxwell, SFA chief executive] about what they want to do moving forward.

"But I think I'm waiting on the Scottish FA now coming to me and saying, 'look, this is what we see as the future' and if I'm part of that then we can have that discussion."

And Clarke admits he's shifted slightly in his own mind, having previously said his chances of staying were only 25 per cent. He says he's now more "50-50" and is not phased by the fact nothing's yet resolved.

"It's been busy for everyone so I'm not surprised," he added.

Related topics