Former Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has revealed he pushed the Scottish FA into agreeing a new contract shortly before this summer's World Cup finals, after growing suspicious that the governing body was delaying a decision until it saw how the tournament went. Despite securing the four-year deal, the 63-year-old always intended to quit if Scotland failed to escape the group stage for the first time in the nation's history, which is ultimately what happened, leading to his departure.

Clarke told Pat Nevin at a Spartans Community Foundation dinner in Edinburgh that he used the media in March to prompt the SFA into action, with negotiations running from early April until just before Scotland's game against Curaçao in mid-May. Scotland went on to beat Haiti 1-0 but lost to Morocco and Brazil, leaving them eliminated on goal difference despite a tense wait in Charlotte for other results. Clarke said he sensed players needed a fresh voice after the Brazil defeat, and he has since spoken with new head coach Sébastien Pocognoli, expressing confidence Scotland can qualify for Euro 2028.