Scottish FA Nears Decision on Steve Clarke's Successor

The clock is ticking on Scotland’s next era.

The Scottish FA is in the final stages of appointing a new head coach to replace Steve Clarke, with the first competitive fixtures of the post-Clarke period now only weeks away.

Clarke, who signed a new four-year contract as recently as May, walked away after Scotland’s group-stage exit at this summer’s World Cup, bringing a seven-year spell to an abrupt close. His departure has left a sizeable void at the heart of the national team just as another demanding cycle approaches.

The responsibility for finding the next man in the dugout sits with chief executive Ian Maxwell and Craig Mulholland, the SFA’s chief football officer since May. The pair have cast the net wide, speaking to candidates from across the UK and overseas, and have already completed a round of interviews.

The process has moved quickly. The SFA is now understood to be edging towards a decision, though one key detail remains under wraps: whether the new head coach will be a Scot or a foreign appointment. For now, that question hangs over Hampden like a curtain waiting to be pulled back.

What is clear is the urgency of the timeline. Scotland return to action in the Nations League with a four-game block, starting away to Slovenia on 26 September. Those matches will set the tone for the new regime, and the SFA wants its choice in place with enough time to shape a squad, a style, and a message.

Inside the camp, some continuity is expected. Steven Naismith, Clarke’s assistant, said last month that he anticipates remaining part of the national-team set-up under the incoming boss. His presence would offer a bridge between eras: a familiar voice for the players as a new one takes command.

Clarke’s decision to resign, described by the former manager as an easy call after the World Cup disappointment, closed the chapter on a tenure that dragged Scotland back to major tournaments and raised expectations. The next appointment will be judged against that backdrop from day one.

The interviews are done. The shortlist is in. With Slovenia on the horizon and a new cycle about to begin, the next name in the Scotland hot seat will not stay a secret for long.