Clarke dismisses link with Scotland post

Chelsea’s assistant manager Steve Clarke has ruled himself out of any race for the Scotland job.

Current Scotland manager Bertie Vogts is expected to be sacked by the Scottish Football Association but Clarke, tipped as a contender for the post by former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit, insists he is not ready to replace the German.

Clarke said: “This is an easy one. I am not ready for it. Until Ruud put me forward, I had never thought about it.

“It can be an ambition in the future because I think the international job is one for someone who has been in the game for a long time and has good experience as a manager.

“Maybe it should go to someone over 50 – someone who has been around for a long time. It is not the type of job for me at this moment in time.”

While ruling himself out of the running should Vogts, as expected, be relieved of his duties, Clarke also had some firm views as to what the SFA should do and that included debating whether axing Vogts was the right way forward.

He added: “Scottish football has to take a long hard look at itself and decide whether getting rid of Bertie Vogts is the right thing to do.

“If he’s not getting the best out of the players then it can be the right decision. If they are just getting rid of him for the sake of getting rid of him, then it can be the wrong decision.”

Vogts’ contract is not due to expire until qualification for the WorldCup in Germany in 2006 is either achieved or becomes mathematically impossible.

The former World Cup winner says he will not resign from the post despite securing only two points from Scotland’s first three World Cup qualifiers.

Former Rangers and Everton manager Walter Smith is now favourite for the post should Vogts get the push.