The Daily Record is standing by it’s claim that Alex McLeish is about to be sacked with just the timing, terms and conditions to be settled.
At 1am on Thursday morning the Glasgow based publisher claimed that the task would be completed within 24 hours but yesterday came and went with only an off the record briefing from the SFA that no meeting was planned. There was no denial of the substance of the claim.
Yesterday afternoon Richard Bevan of the LMA, League Managers Association, went on Sky Sports to deny concerns about McLeish’s health but that remains the theme of today’s story in the Daily Record along with some details about the ‘deeply troubling episode’ that occurred in the build up to the San Marino match.
The Record reports:
Alex McLeish looks set for an anxious wait before being relieved of his duties as Scotland boss after a day of confusion at Hampden.
Record Sport revealed in the early hours of Thursday morning that McLeish is set to be stood down as early as next week due to growing concerns among SFA top brass that the 60-year-old is struggling with the stress levels involved in managing the national team.
Chief executive Ian Maxwell had been expected to hold telephone discussions with McLeish this afternoon for a full debrief of the disastrous double header against Kazakhstan and San Marino which got Scotland’s qualification campaign for Euro 2020 off to a nightmarish start.
Maxwell has also learned of a “deeply troubling episode” which occurred in the build-up to Sunday’s 2-0 win in Rimini and that has heightened concerns over the strain McLeish is under as he attempts to lead the nation to a major finals for the first time in 22 years.
McLeish’s time as Scotland boss has involved a number of minor run ins with Celtic players.
He expected a full turn out for the mid summer friendlies with Peru and Mexico despite European commitments then played Leigh Griffiths in a friendly against Belgium then dropped him for a Nations League qualifier at home to Albania.
McLeish later brought up personal issues effecting Griffiths while he was injured before mysteriously dropping James Forrest and Oli Burke for the match with San Marino.