Steve Clarke insider breaks cover on Scotland boss' future and gives insight into SFA relationship

The players have reunited in Glasgow for the first time since qualifying in November ahead of friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast. Naismith reported that they are in good spirits and enjoyed reminiscing about last year's epic 4-2 win over Denmark.

But the issue of the manager’s long-term future won’t go away. As it stands, Clarke is contracted only until Scotland are eliminated from the World Cup. He last week rated the chance of him staying on as 50-50, which was an improvement on his estimate of 25-75 when asked the same question last Autumn. He confirmed he had not been offered a new deal to date. He also stressed he wanted the uncertain situation resolved before the World Cup starts. Naismith believes it will be and Scotland can concentrate on making history by qualifying for the second stage for the first time.

The assistant manager has spent a lot of time with Clarke recently on reconnaissance trips to the United States ahead of this summer’s tournament. He should know where the manager's head is at better than anyone.

“I think it will be sorted out one way or another,” said Naismith. “It’s very relaxed because they (Clarke and the SFA) been in a relationship for the last six or seven years.

“When the manager has tried to improve things the SFA have gone with him. When they’ve wanted things to improve, the manager has had an input.

“So it’s a brilliant relationship. Whatever happens, it will get sorted. I can’t underestimate how much work has gone into the preparation for the World Cup. Myself and the manager have been together in America, floating about, trying to get things done. The World Cup is humongous. Getting every aspect of that as good as we can takes a lot of work.”

“To be honest with the whole situation, it’s been a relationship that’s been going on for so long that everybody is comfortable in it,” he added, with reference to Clarke and the SFA. “I think this period has really been intense.

“But with the two tournaments we’ve been at, given the way we’ve performed at them, the main focus has been on making sure everything is bang on.

“What will happen will get resolved and worked out. But I think the relationship the manager has got with the people who make the decisions here is good. It’s really good and that’s the thing that everybody is probably comfortable about. There will be times when things move on - that is what it is - but at the moment we should just enjoy what we have because we’re going to a World Cup. And I’ve got no doubt things will get sorted.”