IAN Maxwell, the SFA's chief executive, must be allowed to make the crucial decision on the next Scotland manager completely on his own if Alex McLeish is removed from his post.
That's the view of former SFA boss Gordon Smith who admitted to being surprised and dismayed when he discovered, at the start of his three years at the top of Scottish football, such a huge appointment was decided by committee.
McLeish was given the job 13 months ago through that same process and while the sources close to the SFA insisted yesterday that the manager would not be sacked before the weekend, which had been suggested, the 59-year-old's second stint in charge of the national team does seem to coming to an end.
An informal telephone chat took place on Wednesday night between Maxwell and McLeish, during which the Scotland manager's future was discussed, and there will be further talks surrounding his position within the association over the coming days.
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And Richard Bevan, the chairman of England’s League Management Association, has insisted there is nothing wrong with McLeish’s health, which has been the subject of much speculation.
Smith is a supporter of McLeish but, if there is to be a change, he insisted Maxwell and nobody else had to make the call.
“Ian has to be the one who makes the decision on who manages Scotland," said Smith. "Ian, a bit like myself, has a football background, has knowledge of the game, and I think he has to be accountable for the decision and in that respect he and nobody else makes that call.
“That is the job of the chief executive of the SFA. Or it should be.
“I remember the first time when the manager’s job because available when I was chief executive. I thought I would be the one to select the manager. It doesn’t work like that. It goes to a committee.
“I think in my time it was four members of the SFA board who had to decide. I know there will be some who say that it’s more democratic to do it that way, but I felt that if I made the decision it would be someone I wanted to work with and, obviously, it didn’t work out I would be accountable for a decision I had made.
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“As it so happened, there are people who narrow down a list of candidates, interviews were given and then a joint conclusion was made.
“For me, someone has to be accountable if a man comes in and doesn’t do a good job and, of course, should be praised when it works."
McLeish has looked stressed in recent times but insists he is in good health despite finding himself under so much pressure. Bevan told McLeish yesterday that he would help him when speaking on a pre-arranged appearance on Sky Sports.
“One particular paper put a story out about Alex’s health and also about his position as manager of Scotland," he said. "I have spoken to Alex numerous times today and to a senior executive at the Scottish FA, and Alex has told me he is absolutely fine. Alex is a highly professional football manager
"He is tactically aware, well prepared and is absolutely fine."
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