Ally McCoist in damning Scotland squad verdict and gives take on Steve Clarke future

Ally McCoist has urged both the SFA and Steve Clarke to avoid making any knee-jerk decisions on the manager's future.

Scotland were dumped out of Euro 2024 last night with defeat to Hungary leaving us bottom of the group with just one point, a repeat of the last disappointing Euros campaign. Supporters were left hugely demoralised and it has already led to talk over what the future should hold.

Many feel that Clarke may have run his course as the boss, despite qualifying for both those tournaments after over 20 years without for the nation. But Super Ally, the last man to score a Scotland winner at the Euros, isn't so sure and doesn't feel there are many replacement options about, other than possibly Davie Moyes who has been mentioned by the Tartan Army. He certainly doesn't want anyone to rush into an emotional decision without thinking it over.

Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, he said: "The first thing I do if I'm Steve Clarke is I do not make any knee-jerk reaction. And while I'm at it neither do the SFA because the one thing Steve Clarke deserves is a little bit of time to mull things over, maybe go a wee holiday. He'll come back, I would imagine, and have a chat with the bosses at the SFA and they can discuss the whole thing.

"If he wants to carry on, then you have to have a chat with the bosses at the SFA. If they want to change it, they need to sit down and have a chat with him. I don't know what will be going on in Steve's head just now because it will be mixed emotions and everything will be going through his head.

"You mention Davie Moyes, of course he would be an option. Are there other options? I'm not so sure there are other options out there. So it will be interesting times. I would be quite happy for him to continue. I think he'll look back on it and make mistakes. I look at the team selection last night, perhaps we could have started with Lewis Morgan. Regarding Stevie Clarke, I hope it will be a good couple of weeks before a decision is made, and I think he's definitely earned that."

McCoist also gave a damning verdict on the current squad. He says it was painfully evident throughout the tournament that we lack a bit of quality in wide areas, someone who can do something out of nothing.

Asked for what had gone wrong, he explained: "We just lack players with any creativity and any goal scoring threat, really. I think the boys are as honest a group as you'll get but when you look at it in the cold light of day, we don't have anybody that can take someone on, that can go by somebody, create a little big of magic.

"If you look at midfield which is the strongest part of our team without doubt, I don't think we really performed to the level we would have hoped. I think the biggest thing is, it was really evident over the three games, we lack a player that can do something different."

Coisty was pressed on whether injuries played a part or Clarke's tactics were to blame and added: "I think it's a bit of both. Our squad is not nearly big enough and strong enough to handle losing Hickey, Serie A's midfielder of the year Lewis Ferguson, Patterson. That said, it's just a small reason, there was other factors.

"I was disappointed at the end of the game last night, and I know we had to go and win it. But the way I looked at it, not scoring a goal was not a total disaster, losing a goal was a total disaster because it out you out. Not scoring didn't necessarily put you out. But you cannot leave yourself one vs one at the back, I don't care who it is or what level."