McLeish and Levein in Scots frame

2Slick

Alex McLeish and Craig Levein have refused to rule themselves out of the running as the Scottish FA prepares to draw up a shortlist for national boss.

The pair are expected to be among the possible targets along with Tommy Burns and Jim Jefferies after the departure of Walter Smith to Rangers.

Asked by BBC Sport if they would like the national manager's job, McLeish and Levein replied in near identical terms.

"In football you can never say never to anything. I wouldn't rule myself out."

The SFA board is holding a special meeting on Monday to draw up the shortlist.


The Scotland job, for anyone Scottish, is a major job - it all depends on the timing

Craig Levein
And Burns, Jefferies, Levein and McLeish could be joined there by the likes of Gary McAllister and Joe Jordan.

Levein, who has had a bright start in charge of Dundee United, insisted that he had not been approached about the job.

But he told BBC Radio Scotland: "I would never rule myself out of anything as my experience at Leicester showed that things can change very quickly in football.

"When a job comes up, you have to look at it and decide whether it interests you.

"The Scotland job, for anyone Scottish, is a major job. It all depends on the timing."

Like Levein, Jefferies and Jordan are presently in jobs where the SFA would have to pay the kind of compensation that chief executive David Taylor says he would prefer to avoid.

Jefferies has earned praise for the work he has done with limited resources at Kilmarnock.

Jordan, assistant at Portsmouth, has helped his unfashionable club to the higher end of the English Premiership.


I can say, hand on heart, I haven't been approached

Alex McLeish
Burns has already managed to combine being Celtic youth coach with the Scotland assistant's job and is seen as the continuity candidate.

Former Coventry boss McAllister has also been involved in the Scotland camp as a coach and last week declared himself ready for a return to management after time out following the death of his wife.

McLeish, out of a job since leaving Rangers in the summer, told BBC Radio Five Live: "They have said their target is to appoint another Scottish manager.

"They went down the foreign route before and it didn't work out. I am sure they will bring somebody in who knows the culture and I am pretty sure it will be a Scot.

"It is an honour to be approached for that job, although I can say, hand on heart, I haven't been approached.

"So, at the moment, I am focused on returning to club football, hopefully leaving Scotland and doing something fresh - maybe in England, the Premiership or the Championship.

"Who knows? I can't be too choosy. Or maybe there is a possibility of going abroad."