Wednesday 16 November 2016 17:35, UK
Former Scotland boss Walter Smith says Gordon Strachan should remain in charge of the national side despite recent poor results.
Strachan has come under pressure after guiding Scotland to just one win - a 5-1 victory in Malta - from the opening four qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Last week's 3-0 defeat by England at Wembley left the Scots with slim hopes of reaching the finals in Russia, but Smith is convinced the former Celtic boss is still the best man for the job.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ, Smith, who was in charge of Scotland between 2004-2007, said: "Personally, I think he should stay on.
"I thought the team had some excellent performances in the last campaign. We haven't matched them this campaign but Gordon knows all the players.
"He has a problem that quite a lot of them are not playing for the clubs at the moment, but he'll know them better than anyone and I think going into the last half of the section we will be looking for a reaction and I think Gordon can bring that."
Smith, who revived Scotland's fortunes after replacing Berti Vogts towards the end of 2004, admits the demands of the job at national level are on a par with club level.
"Managing clubs is intense enough but managing the national team you have shortened periods of intensity and that makes it a little bit more difficult," added the 68-year-old.
"But it is also like club football in that you have to win or you come under a little bit of pressure. Gordon is coming under that at the moment but I still think he is the best man for the job."
Ally McCoist, assistant manager to Smith at Scotland and Rangers, believes a radical overhaul of the game north of the border will be required before any progress is noted.
"I don't think anyone can hide from the fact that we are not producing anything like the level of the youngster that we once did," he said.
"But we haven't qualified for 18 years so this is a problem that has not come overnight. There's a number of reasons for that. If I had the absolute answer I would be telling you it, but it's a combination of things.
"It comes down to clubs, the SFA, the youngsters themselves, parents, boys clubs, coaches, and we definitely need a revamp of the whole situation. There's a million things.
"My boys for example cannot play two games at the weekend. They can't play with their school and their boys club. What is that all about? Can someone tell me what that's all about?
"When we were young we played Saturday morning with the school, Saturday afternoon with the BBs [Boys Brigade], and Sunday with the boys club. And then during the week we were playing and training all the time. It seems to me there are people putting obstacles up rather than trying to help.
"There has to be change and there's a lot of people culpable, but I do believe everyone has the best interests of our country at heart in terms of producing youngsters again.
"We have to sit round a table and get those in the know, and by that I mean people like Alex Ferguson and Walter Smith, and come up with a plan."
McCoist and Smith were speaking at the opening a new £1.5m clubhouse at Torrance Park Golf Club in Motherwell.
