Scotland head coach Steve Clarke says there’s a 75 per cent probability he’ll go away his function after the 2026 World Cup.
The previous West Brom, Studying and Kilmarnock supervisor has already led Scotland to consecutive European Championships, and his subsequent goal shall be retaining their place within the high tier of the Nations League – with a two-legged play-off in opposition to Greece this month.
His consideration will then flip to securing qualification to a primary males’s World Cup since 1998 – with Greece, Belarus and both Portugal or Denmark mendacity in Scotland’s method.
Clarke – who took over from Alex McLeish in 2019 – is out of contract after the event in the US, Canada and Mexico subsequent yr, and the 61-year-old admits he might not renew that deal.
“I’ll go on percentage – 75 per cent,” he mentioned, when requested how doubtless he was to depart after the World Cup marketing campaign. “That is one thing that I have not spoken to my bosses about.
“But at this moment in time, I’m happy to run my contract down. And I want to go to America. That’s the bottom line. I want to help this group of players to get to the World Cup in America.”
Regardless of their Euros success, Scotland missed out on the 2022 Qatar World Cup following a play-off loss to Ukraine – and Clarke admits the subsequent 12 months will determine his future.
He added: “I’ve still got 10 big games this year to determine my future moving forward.
“I’ve determined that I need to run the contract down. Clearly, if we have now a unbelievable yr and get to the World Cup and do properly on the World Cup, perhaps any individual will persuade me to remain.
“Whether I stay here or whether I go somewhere else, the next year can determine my future. I think it’s a little bit too early to be talking about me leaving or me staying.”
Scotland are unbeaten in three video games below Steve Clarke, beating Poland and Croatia, plus drawing with Portugal
When requested if he nonetheless had ambitions to return to membership administration, the previous St Mirren and Chelsea defender mentioned: “I’m always open to other suggestions.
“I’ve loved being the pinnacle coach of Scotland. I am decided to get pleasure from this yr being the pinnacle coach of Scotland. We’ll see the place that takes us.”
