MALKY MACKAY yesterday refused to rule himself out of becoming Scotland manager on a permanent basis but admitted to do that he would have to quit his role as the SFA’s Performance Director.
The 45-year-old chose his words carefully, as he named the squad to face the Netherlands in next Thursday night’s friendly at Pittodrie, which for the moment is Mackay’s one game in charge of the national team, but said enough to suggest he would not turn down the opportunity to lead his country.
Mackay has his supporters at Hampden and, should he beat the Dutch, it is highly likely that he would be at the very least interviewed as a candidate to replace Gordon Strachan.
Read more: Youth drive could make a case for Malky Mackay as Scotland manager
He spoke about being “humbled and honoured” to be handed an opportunity which could well lead to him being the national team manager.
“What Scottish manager wouldn’t take the Scotland job? It’s ludicrous to say that,” said the former Celtic player when asked about the prospect of him being given the job on a full-time basis
“I’ve got a job, I’m in a job. The board have got a decision to make on where they want to go with that. But my day job has been put on hold for a month.
"Last month I was in eight countries in four weeks. Last week I was down at Llanelli with our 17s, I was in Estonia with them and then in Ireland with the Victory Shield team.
"So there is a big job I’ve got on my own. And this is a nice, lovely little distraction I have at the moment – and it takes up my whole focus, don’t worry about that.
“That’s hypothetical (the SFA asking him to stay on), I’m doing nothing other than concentrating on Holland, because that’s a big enough task at hand.”
And he added: “I’ve got a job at the moment. I’m in this job for the next couple of weeks and I’m proud to have been asked to do this for the next couple of weeks.
Read more: Youth drive could make a case for Malky Mackay as Scotland manager
“But I’ve got a job at the moment. I’m the performance director. And the two of them are separate at this time. I’m just looking at the next couple of weeks, looking after this time.
“After that I go back to my own job – and then it’s up to the board to decide what they want to do after that. It’s not my decision.”
Asked whether he could continue in his current role and lead the national team, Mackay was adamant that would be impossible.
"I’m in charge of seven teams, and when I include the national side, I’m actually in charge of eight right now," he said.
“I’ve got a variety of managers and teams out all around Europe right, and whoever is doing the performance director’s role, the task is to look at strategy and to look ahead, see where we can be innovative and where we can go.
“So, you couldn’t do both. I’m on an awful lot of planes at the moment and all over the place, but I’m really enjoying it.”
Mackay had added Eric Black, No2 at Southampton, to his backroom staff for a game he is desperate to impress in.
"Let’s make no mistake. I want to win against a very tough Holland team," he said. "I'm humbled to be given this chance."
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