Steve Clarke's Scotland contract threatens to overshadow World Cup preparation - over to you, SFA

The main hall of a primary school in Renfrew was an odd place for the first stirrings of discontent to appear ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

As Steve Clarke himself noted when announcing his latest squad, things have been progressing well for Scotland.

No games have meant he has not been getting any stick, he smiled. The manager then dropped the equivalent of a stink bomb in the middle of the room by honestly answering a sensible question about his future.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke makes his squad announcement at Kirklandneuk Primary School, on March 16, 2026, in Renfrew, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group / SFA

Although eyebrow raising, it cannot have been unexpected by his employers. Focus has been fixed on arranging training facilities and accommodation in the United States. All the while, however, one key administrative chore has been neglected. The thorny subject of Clarke's long-term plans was always coming down the line. It now threatens to overshadow Scotland’s World Cup preparations.

Two paths for the SFA to take

There are probably only two courses of action available for the Scottish Football Association. Offer Clarke a new contract or confirm he isn’t getting one and, with the greatest respect to their most successful-ever manager, outline an intention to move in another direction following the World Cup. The only alternative is explaining that what happens next is contingent on whether Scotland can progress into the knockout stage for the first time. One imagines this wait-and-see approach isn’t acceptable to Clarke. He won’t want to be cast as a hostage to fortune. What if, like at Euro 2024, Scotland’s fate hinged on a penalty not given? Is Clarke going to accept a situation where a contract worth hundreds of thousands of pounds might rest on a referee or VAR team's say so? No he isn’t.

The SFA is equally conscious of being held hostage to fortune. What if they hand Clarke a bumper new contract and Scotland lose the first game to Haiti? What if they win that game but still don’t progress and are stuck with a lame duck manager. The Tartan Army would be up in arms. Many have already tired of Clarke and were desperate for him to go following the perceived failure of Euro 2024. Seven years is a long time for anyone to stay in the same job, in football especially.

Clarke himself might feel he needs his edges sharpened. He may relish a new challenge in the club game. He has spoken often enough about this still appealing to him. Indeed, as recently as Autumn he was rating his chances of leaving Scotland as 75-25. The SFA are surely within their rights to say, well, Steve, you made your bed – you indicated to us quite clearly you didn’t want to stay on. Now, Clarke says, it’s 50-50, for whatever reason.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke and his players celebrate qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) | SNS Group

As he said in Renfrew on Monday while slightly misquoting The Clash: “Do I stay or do I go?” Perhaps another song from the same band is as fitting: Career Opportunities.

As it stands there is no new deal on offer from the SFA. He will shortly be out of contract. He is therefore waiting to see what clubs get in touch.

As thrilling a prospect as the World Cup is, life goes on after it. Clarke has already said that he wants to continue in football in some capacity. Still only 62, he’s not ready to bow out yet. It’s arguable that his stock has never been higher. In addition to a CV where he has worked for the likes of Ruud Gullit and Kenny Dalglish and guided West Bromwich Albion to their highest ever Premier League position. He led Kilmarnock to their highest league finish since the 1960s. He is the only Scotland manager with three major finals to his name. It’s hardly self-aggrandisement if he feels he has another plum job left in him.

Celtic job may be non-starter

The best might even be yet to come. The trouble is, if it’s not to be Scotland, where? Celtic have been mentioned a lot in connection to Clarke and are very likely to be on the lookout for a new manager come the end of the season. But as with any other club with big ambitions next season, they could not countenance hiring someone unable to clock on until the start of July at least, with European qualifiers already almost upon them. Likewise, having taken so long to get back to a World Cup, no Scotland fan – or governing body – would surely tolerate a manager who is not completely focused on the job in hand.

It is where everyone wants to be. Can Clarke really stomach swapping international football for, say, the grind of the English Championship? Albeit midweek trips to Stoke and the like can be made more palatable by the number of zeros on a pay cheque. Clarke might feel a Premier League job is not the fantasy others perceive it to be. He can’t do worse than someone like Igor Tudor at Spurs. In fact, Spurs could use the careful, stable stewardship the Ayrshireman offers.

Clarke and his bosses have much to occupy them over and above the World Cup. The fear is that this issue will fester and start to dominate the agenda. Clarke's next press conference is next Friday before the following day's friendly with Japan at Hampden. Likely first question? "Any clubs been in touch yet, Steve?"

The situation could mirror what happened to England before the 1990 World Cup. The English FA refused to extend manager Bobby Robson's contract until after their fate in Italy was known. Robson interpreted this as being "put on offer" and signed a deal with PSV Eindhoven before the tournament began. He naively hoped this would remain secret until after the World Cup. The details inevitably leaked and all hell broke loose. Some areas of the press labelled him a "traitor".

Whatever happens, Clarke will receive - and deserves - a fairer hearing. But after a 28-year absence, no one wanted to be counting down the days until the start of the tournament amid such uncertainty. Over to the SFA.