SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has expressed confidence that Steve Clarke will remain in charge of Scotland for the Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign.

Clarke has come in for criticism following the national team’s 3-1 defeat to Croatia at Hampden on Tuesday night and exit from the Euro 2020 finals.

But Maxwell has been delighted with the progress which has made since the Ayrshireman was appointed two years ago and is keen for him to remain in his position.

“If you lose a game everybody knows what you should have done instead,” he said. “That’s just football. But that’s not the way it works in reality. Everybody is a manager when things go wrong.

“Remember, we came up against a team which was in the 2018 World Cup final and have some of the best players in the world playing for them. When you take a step back it’s about keeping perspective. 

“I remember saying to the media at the time we appointed him (Clarke) that we needed to make a pot four team a pot two team to qualify.

“The journey is ongoing and this was a significant milestone, one that should refuel our World Cup campaign and give those players invaluable experience for their futures at their clubs and of course for the country.”

Maxwell added: “As Steve said last night he wants to take us to Qatar with this squad and we are delighted with the unity and trust he has fostered with the squad and vice versa. 

“We are obviously absolutely delighted he is our manager and we want him to be the manager for a long time to come. I’m sure he feels the same because he wants to keep getting Scotland to major tournaments.”