Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will be named as the new Scotland boss this week, according to widespread reports.
The 55-year-old has been the overwhelming bookmakers' favourite to take the job since Craig Levein was sacked in November after a poor start to Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Strachan, who won 50 caps for Scotland, enjoyed a largely successful period as Celtic manager between 2005 and 2009 but has been out of management since leaving Middlesbrough in October, 2010.
With Scotland's chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup effectively over, it seems likely Strachan would be given a contract through to 2016.
Should his appointment be confirmed, Strachan's first match in charge will be a friendly against Estonia at Pittodrie on February 6, before a World Cup qualifying double-header in March.
Scotland host Wales at Hampden on March 22 and face Serbia away four days later.
Strachan, who at times had a fractious relationship with the media while at Celtic, has made no secret of his desire to manage the national side.
Speaking to ITV in November, he said: "It's quite simple really, it would be an honour to be asked to be the manager of your own national side, it's terrific. I could sit here and say 'yes, it would be great' or 'no, it's not for me' but it would also be arrogant of me to answer that if nobody has asked you and presume that someone will ask.
"Until you've been asked a question about a job, any job, then you really don't know how you'd go about it that's for sure. I wouldn't have the arrogance to think that someone is going to knock on my door."
Reports suggest Strachan will appoint Gary McAllister, his midfield colleague in the Leeds championship-winning side of the early 1990s, as his assistant. Under-21 coach Billy Stark took charge of Scotland's last match, a 2-1 friendly win in Luxembourg in November.
Source: PA
