Soccer: Vogts’ number two must be Scottish - Roxburgh

Former Scotland coach Andy Roxburgh has urged the Scottish Football Association to appoint a Scot as assistant to manager-elect Berti Vogts.

The ex-Germany coach and player is set to succeed Craig Brown when his tenure with Kuwait ends after the Gulf Cup.

But Roxburgh, who guided Scotland to the 1990 World Cup finals and the 1992 European Championships, insists Vogts must be helped by a Scot in his new role.

‘‘It is absolutely vital his number two is a Scot,’’ Roxburgh said.

‘‘I think that is what the SFA want and they are quite right in that, and they have discussed it with me as well.

‘‘It’s important there is somebody who knows the Scottish scene and the psyche of Scottish players.

‘‘They’ve been talking in general about people and bouncing names off me but they haven’t gone for anyone yet.

‘‘They want to get Berti in place and then they will talk to him about it.

‘‘I personally wouldn’t go for an old head because Berti is the old head and what he needs alongside him is someone who might become manager in the future.’’

But Roxburgh admitted he was disappointed that the new manager is not Scottish.

Roxburgh said: ‘‘I wish he (Vogts) had Scottish blood in him and I can’t get away from that because, as a traditionalist, it is a disappointment to me that we didn’t have one of our well-known Scottish names available whether it be Walter Smith or Alex Ferguson or whoever.

‘‘I would have liked to have seen that continue.

‘‘Having said that, the fact is we have had to widen the net to go beyond Scottish borders.

‘‘Berti is a very competent, professional hard-working coach.’’