Scottish soccer: Smith ready to help Vogts

Dundee United manager Alex Smith has pledged to help Berti Vogts become a success as the new Scotland boss.

Smith has been named as the Bank of Scotland Manager of the Month for January.

He is also Scotland’s Under-21 coach and has been touted as a possible assistant to the German. It is hoped Vogts will start his new post once an agreement to end his contract as national team boss at Kuwait has been reached.

And Smith insisted he would jump at the chance of working alongside the German.

He said: ‘‘I haven’t had any discussions with anybody but I’m ready just the same. I would deem that to be a great honour.

‘‘Berti Vogts’ credentials are excellent and he will get all the backing and support he needs.

‘‘It will be an extremely difficult task to match Craig Brown’s record but his own record is as good as anybody’s.’’

Smith has overseen the development of promising youngsters like Jamie McCunnie, Kenny Miller and Kevin McNaughton at under-21 level.