GORDON Strachan has been confirmed as the new manager of Scotland and admitted his immediate priority was to restore the team's reputation to a level currently enjoyed only by the Tartan Army.

The former Celtic manager, who has been out of management since leaving Middlesbrough in October 2010, denied accepting a poisoned chalice, saying he hoped there would be "more good times than bad".

He refused to write off the World Cup qualifying campaign. Scotland are currently bottom of Group A with two points. "I really want the squad and the staff to give something back to the country and the fans who support us, because the fans are probably more famous than the squad now," Strachan added.