Steve Clarke is convinced his contract situation will be clarified one way or the other by the time Scotland depart for the World Cup. In charge since 2019, the current deal of the men's national team manager is due to run out when the side's interest in this summer's finals in North America ends.
In March, the Ayrshiremen said he was more open to staying in the post than previously but claimed he'd yet to be given clarity from the SFA hierarchy on how they saw the future. With the matter unresolved, there is a concern that it might overshadow the build-up to the tournament - which will see the side face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.
But while Clarke was reluctant to discuss the matter as he named his 26-man squad for the finals, he predicted that his future would be resolved when Scotland travel to the USA on May 31. Clarke says we will soon know if he is staying on as Scotland head coach beyond the World Cup.
Initially asked if he was any clearer on his contract, he said: 'I don't think this is the day for speaking about me. Let's speak about the players and the squad and leave that for them. There will be plenty of time to talk about me, for good or bad. Let's talk about the players today, I would rather do that. But I understand why you ask the question.'
Clarke was then asked if he would prefer to have it clarified before boarding the plane. 'I am pretty sure it will be,' he replied. 'But let's just talk about the squad, not me. I am not important today.' Pressed on whether he thought it would be resolved by that date, he said: 'Hopefully. That would be the plan.'
Clarke on Tartan Army Behaviour
Meanwhile, the Scotland boss believes the Tartan Army can restore the reputation of supporters in this county following the shameful scenes at Parkhead last Saturday. With Celtic clinching the title against Hearts in dramatic style, a pitch invasion saw some visiting players goaded and the Tynecastle squad forced to immediately leave the stadium.
Clarke is hopeful that the behaviour of Scotland supporters this summer can help atone for the unfortunate images from last weekend which were seen around the world. 'I think the international scene is separate from the domestic scene,' he added. 'So, the feel-good factor is around the international team. We feel good about ourselves and feel good about the last qualifying campaign. That finished on a fantastic emotional high here at Hampden, so we are good.'
'Listen, the way the league season ended with the scenes on Saturday at Celtic Park was not good for Scottish football. I think it's a bad look that doesn't do anybody any favours. It's much better that the people celebrate but stay where they should stay. People invading the pitch is not right because player safety is endangered. That is not correct - anywhere. There is no way anyone would come through that door and try to disrupt you guys (media) doing your job. It's just not correct. On the pitch is the players' place of work. People should not go on the pitch, it's quite clear.'
'The reputation of the Tartan Army and the Scottish fans is well known worldwide. They will go away, they will enjoy themselves. I think even over the disappointment in Germany the Tartan Army were top supporters. They made a lot of friends in Germany and I'm sure they will make more friends over in the States.'
Gannon-Doak and Hanley Fitness
Clarke has no fears about selecting Ben Gannon-Doak on the back of the Bournemouth man only managing 19 minutes as a substitute - prior to last night's game with Manchester City - following the injury he sustained playing against Denmark in November. 'Fully fit, just waiting on the chance to play,' Clarke stated. 'Obviously, his team are doing fantastic, they have an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League. If Ben can get five or ten minutes off the bench, that is all he has been getting really. In terms of match fitness when we get him, and I would put Aaron Hickey in a similar boat, we need to manage their minutes across the two friendlies and make sure we can get them up to a level where they can at least play three quarters of the first game v Haiti. But both will need managing for sure.'
Clarke has no doubts about Grant Hanley's fitness despite the Hibs man coming off early in his side's loss to Motherwell on Saturday. 'Grant had a scan after the game at the weekend,' said the manager. 'His knee is clear. He has assured me he is fully fit.'
Five Strikers Selected
Clarke has selected five strikers in the 26-man party, a move, he admits, is designed to give him scope to play two up front in any of the matches. 'I quite liked the two strikers when we played against Ivory Coast,' he recalled. 'I thought the system worked quite well that game, it is something I have in mind that I can maybe use in one of the games over in the USA. If you remember way back to the very start of the qualifying campaign when we went away to Denmark, a really difficult game, and we played 4-4-2 with two strikers and it went really well for us.'
'There is a little bit of thinking in my head that at certain times across the game, obviously you can change the game from the bench with your strikers as well, that was the thinking behind taking five strikers.'
McBurnie Disappointment
Clarke admitted he was disappointed that Hull City striker Oli McBurnie chose to go onto social media to express his disappointment after learning that he wouldn't be going to the World Cup. 'I thought that was a private conversation to be honest,' he said. 'He should not have gone to the media.' Clarke denied the decision had anything to do with a clash of personalities. 'It is just the way I work. You know the way I work,' he stressed. 'I tend to stick with players I have had before. I trust them. They know what I expect from that and that is it. It is just a natural selection process - natural in my head anyway, maybe not natural in everybody else's.'
