Steve Clarke enters ‘advanced discussions’ over Scotland contract as timeline for new deal revealed

Clarke, who announced his 26-man squad for the tournament at Hampden Park yesterday, is Scotland’s longest-serving manager of all time, having been in charge since May 2019. The only man to lead the team to three major tournaments, he also holds the record for the most matches managed, with 76.

Set to begin their World Cup campaign with a clash against Haiti at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 13, Scotland will then take on Morocco at the same venue six days later. They complete their Group C fixtures with a clash against Brazil in Miami on June 24, with the 62-year-old set to expire after the World Cup.

Speaking in March, the Scotland boss has insisted that his future as head coach of the national team was in the Scottish FA’s court, though stressed he would “quite like it settled” before the World Cup kicks off in three months' time, he explained: “I have had one very brief conversation with Ian [Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive] about what they want to do moving forward but from the last we spoke, (there was) nothing concrete in terms of this is happening or that is happening.

“I think I said a way back 25-75, I’d probably go 50-50 now [when it comes to staying]. But I think I am waiting on the Scottish FA coming to me now and saying, ‘this is what we see as the future’. And if I am part of that then we can have that discussion.”

However, the former Kilmarnock boss did hint that a new contract could be on the horizon during Tuesday’s squad announcement press conference, where he said: “I am pretty sure it will be [resolved]. But let’s just talk about the squad, not me. I am not important today. Hopefully [it’ll be done soon]. That would be the plan.”

According to an exclusive report from The Times, there has now been a breakthrough in those discussions, with Clarke in ‘advanced discussions’ and close to penning a deal that would take him through to Euro 2028, a tournament which Scotland will co-host. Should a deal be confirmed, it would see Clarke’s reign as manager extended to nine years.

The team will jet off to their World Cup base camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, following their tournament send-off against Curacao at Hampden on May 30, with a clash against Bolivia also scheduled at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on June 6, before their tournament gets underway against Haiti.

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