Scotland close in on Clarke replacement as SFA picks preferred candidate

The Scottish FA has settled on a preferred candidate to become the next Scotland head coach and is aiming to confirm the appointment inside two weeks. That timing would put the new boss in place before Scotland's opening Nations League triple-header, which starts away to Slovenia on 26 September. Steve Clarke left the role after Scotland were eliminated in the group stage at this summer's World Cup, bringing a seven-year spell to an end. He had signed a new four-year contract in May. The recruitment process is being led by Craig Mulholland, who joined the SFA as chief football officer in May. He is understood to have spoken to a broad mix of contenders from the UK and beyond, and interviews have already taken place. No indication has been given on whether the next appointment will be a Scot or a foreign coach. Steven Naismith, who worked as Clarke's assistant, said last month that he expects to stay within the national setup once the new manager is confirmed.