WHEN he was manager of Kilmarnock, Jim Fleeting was blessed with the gift of irrational optimism that is a pre-requisite of those daft enough to become top league managers, but even he did not take his team into a major contest hoping they could win 18-0.

However, that is what the man whose current job, among others, is to look after the Scotland's international women's team, faces up to with remarkable resolution in advance of the World Cup qualifying match with Lithuania at Scotstoun, Glasgow, tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.

To reach the next stage of the tournament the Scots, who have only recently come under the official auspices of the SFA and thus Fleeting, one of the authority's qualified coaches and community officers, need to catch up with the Czech Republic, first by beating the Lithuanians, then by making up the goal chasm that separates them from the group leaders.

Unfortunately the classy Czechs who, in the men's game terms, are Italy while the Scots are San Marino, have been belting in goals with such frequency that they have left the Scotland tackling their final game with what seems an impossible task . . . until you talk to Fleeting.

''We are not saying we will do it, of course not,'' said the coach, '' but these kind of things can happen in women's football and we are not counting ourselves out yet.

''In these matches every so often there is that kind of result and maybe this will be one of them.''

As we spoke he had decided to put his daughter Julie, the top scorer from midfield, into a front running role, although he hadn't told her yet. Lest anyone make assumptions about this relationship, it should be said that dad Fleeting is only following the example set by his predecessors with the Scotland side. Julie, it is said, is a very talented young player but it is difficult to get her dad to say as much. ''There are a lot of talented players in this side,'' he says and adds ''and she is just one. Unfortunately they don't get the same publicity as she does.''

Since he took over the manager's role a couple of months ago, Fleeting admits to enjoying himself immensely. ''I needed a fix of the touchline role again after five years away from it. To be honest I was too bitter and disappointed at what happened at Kilmarnock to feel that way but in the last couple of years seeing Craig doing his bit for the Scotland side I did get the urge to try again. The chance to manage the girls has been tremendous for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.''

Fleeting had some knowledge of the women's game, of course, as he has monitored 17-year-old Julie's progress since she was a goalkeeper for the primary school boys team.

''I didn't encourage her at all to play football. Her mum was sporty but she didn't play football. Julie has been very lucky in the people who have worked with her, both when she played for the school team and the boys club teams.

''She was with Cunninghame Boys and then Kilwinning. They made special arrangements for changing and things like that so she really was well looked after.''

Jim, like every other macho footballer, didn't have much time for the women's game when he was a player, and it was through Julie's involvement that he began to understand and appreciate what it is about.

''That started me off I suppose but in the last five years with the SFA job I have got to learn a lot more about it. One of our jobs as coaches in the community is to teach girls as well as boys and I think if you asked any of my colleagues they would agree that the response we get from the girls is fantastic. If you go anywhere in Scotland, take a group of boys and a group of girls, same age, same background, you will get a better response from the girls.''

Apart from the obvious, what is the difference between the men's and women's games.

''There is no cynicism in the women's game. It is fresh, refreshing, no malice. There is not a lot of strength in their game and the pitches are too long for them. That may seem daft but when you think of getting the ball from one end to the other their leg muscles are not as strong as men. Yet that makes them pass the ball forward and sometimes that is a good thing.

''Similarly, they are not as strong in the air as men and, therefore, want the ball on the ground which makes for good football, too.''

His daughter, he concedes, is willing to head the ball which is one of the reasons he is putting her up front tomorrow. ''She is also willing to take people on and we need the ball in the box as often as possible this week.''

He gives great credit for getting together a squad as useful as the current one to his predecessors Miller Hay and Sheila Begbie. ''They picked the squad and I have followed on.''

Fleeting, as any dad would, insists that Julie gets no preferential treatment either on the field or off. In fact, compared with big sister Gemma (20) and younger brother Barry (15), he reckons she is the one with whom he gets into more arguments. ''She is too like me I suppose. Football is about the only thing she listens to her old man about. In saying that I very seldom tell her to do this or that. She may ask my advice after a game.''

Fleeting played for Norwich City, Tampas Bay Rowdies, Ayr United, Clyde, Morton and Clyde again. He managed Kilmarnock and had a short spell at Firhill before moving into the SFA involvement.

When the women played the Czech Republic - they drew with them twice - they played in the away leg before 1200 people. They hope to draw a decent attendance in Glasgow tomorrow when they try to make it a goal feast.

They are a mixture of schoolgirls, students, teachers and even a Butlins Redcoat. Wish them well.