Steve Clarke has exacted his final revenge on the Scottish media. He resigned, at the worst possible time.
On Wednesday night things had got raw and emotional after the 3-0 defeat to Brazil send Scotland hurtling towards the World Cup exit door. Gone but not quite, Death Row for a few days as the other groups were completed.
Keith Jackson of the Daily Record put a very decent question to the Scotland boss.
Clarke wasn’t forgiving or forgetting. He introduced the word prickly into his answer to Jackson. He then defined the word prickly as he completed his response.
Clarke’s final answer was a reminder that his squad had provided the Scottish media with a trip to the World Cup Finals.
That didn’t go down well. Not a bit.
Both sides have tolerated each other but there has been no warmth. Clarke doesn’t have any favourite reporters, no-one gets a drip drip of news from the former St Mirren defender.
Since the 3-0 defeat to Brazil the SFA have adopted a policy of silence. Darryl Broadfoot is in charge of Communications. A few longer standing reporters have issues with the former Herald man.
Broadfoot called in Gordon Duncan to spread feel good happy stories throughout the World Cup.
Gordon Ramsey met the squad before the opener against Haiti. Everyone was up for selfies. Thursday and Friday- complete silence from the SFA as many of the media corps left Florida back to sleepy Charlotte.
Job over. Time to go home.
One last good session would almost certainly have been on the cards for Saturday.
STEVE CLARKE REFUSES TO PLAY THE MEDIA GAME
With a five hour time difference the Sunday ‘papers’ would have been all in place by 5pm Saturday. Noon in Florida. Party time, the last hurrah.
Thirty minutes past midnight in Scotland the SFA announced that Clarke had resigned. 7.30pm in Florida, with the departure parties in full swing. One last blast at expenses before a return to reality.
The ‘papers’ had been printed. Copies of the Sunday Mail were on their way north from Oldham.
A line could be inserted online, a breaking news story from a minor reporter covering the graveyard shift through the night on Saturday into Sunday.
Scotland Men’s Head Coach Steve Clarke has stepped down from his role.
Our most successful National Team Head Coach has called time on his seven years in charge following our participation at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 27, 2026
Clarke and the SFA could have held the announcement back until any time on Sunday.
It would have been inconvenient but could have been properly covered by those on the ground.
HOMEWARDS TO THINK AGAIN
Most of the reporters that Clarke was prickly to will be checking out of hotels today, getting to airports with perhaps two flights to catch before returning to Scotland.
In-between times they’ll be expected to deliver hard hitting opinion pieces on Clarke. On his tournament record of one win, two draws and six defeats. One World Cup goal, from a double deflection.
Clarke won’t be facing the Scottish media again. He’ll return to his quiet family life in the south of England. He won’t be angling for a gig on Sportsound, a column in the Sun or coining it in with An Evening With Steve Clarke in Forfar/Inverness/Dumfries.
Now the SFA can recruit for a successor.
Someone to work with Ian Maxwell, Mike Mulraney and the rest of the blazers. The new manager will be obeying the Comms instructions of Broadfoot who will return to RX Creative Communications. Broadfoot is the sole employee, him and his wife are the Company Directors.
And so the world class executive at Hampden will swing into action to scour the world for Clarke’s successor….. it’s difficult to imagine them recruiting or attracting anyone decent – bear in mind this is the SFA that appointed Alex McLeish a second time!
Paddy Power has Moyes as favourite followed by ludicrous names (O’Neill, Postecoglou, Gerrard) with only Alex Neil and Steven Naismith likely to be in the SFA’s contact book and price range. My money is on them appointing failed club manager Steven ‘Laughing Boy’ Naismith at 15/2, possibly as part of a dream-ticket double act with Robbie Neilson in tow – an inspiring appointment by an organisation well known for its innovative and daring approach…….
McTominay was their hero , the media darling
They lined up to absolutely destroy him after the Brazil game
They really are Just a shower of wankers
Not that The Sevco Huns care much about Scotland these days but those left that do would go crazy with anger if they appointed Ange !
Fare they well Stevie Clarke – CELTIC SUPPORTER and The most successful Scotland manager EVER !
The SMSM never really gave the Celtic supporting Scotland boss any chance ..did they ? Billy Leckie of the Scottish Sun and Inaction Jackson of the daily Record led the line in all of the media indifference to Clarke …both still going for the jugular during the WC ! For me the biggest problem behind the scenes is the mob who masquerade as our international and domestic Governing body -The SFA ? The biggest bunch of con artists and charlatans this side of the Charles River in Boston ! The original ranch hands in fact . Will Inaction and Billy Leckie go after the SFA to resign it’s administrative roles like they did Clarke …all for abject failure as the proof is abundant clear (for decades ) ? Don’t hawd yer breath ! What about McInnes as the next Scotland manager …that would cause all kinds of serious problems for all involved especially the tribute act …how could he turn down his country if approached ? Treason and all that …..??????
Get the Cape Verde manager… 🙂
Never liked Clarke as a manager because of his anti attacking football. I really hope he doesn’t end up at Celtic park. As far as the SFA go I wouldn’t put it passed them to appoint the the grand soup taker, Neil Benedict Arnold McCann, the biggest reprobate in Scotland.