Ian Maxwell has pushed back strongly against critics who questioned the decision to extend Steve Clarke’s contract as Scotland manager.
Clarke signed a new four-year deal that will keep him in charge of the national team through to the end of the 2030 World Cup.
The extension was confirmed on the eve of this summer’s tournament in America, which Clarke guided Scotland to for the first time in 28 years.
Maxwell, the SFA’s chief executive, described retaining the 62-year-old as an absolute no-brainer given his record in the role.
Clarke has now led Scotland to three of the last four major tournaments, including two European Championship finals.
However, his side exited at the group stage in Germany two years ago, suffering defeats to Germany and Hungary during that campaign.
Some supporters had called for the SFA to wait until after next month’s World Cup before making any decision on Clarke’s future.
Maxwell dismissed that thinking entirely, expressing genuine surprise that anyone could view the deal as a risk.
He said: “How is it a gamble to give a guy who had taken us to three out of four major finals a new contract?”
“That is a problem with football. Everybody is instant. They say, ‘That manager has lost a game, let’s sack him’.”
Maxwell added: “When you look at how Steve has done since he came in, it’s pretty staggering for anyone to say that giving him a new contract is a gamble.”
He continued: “Steve gets us to major finals and is enthused by the idea of overseeing a transition and bringing in new players. It was an absolute no brainer.”
The SFA chose a four-year term rather than a shorter two-year deal, and Maxwell confirmed there is no break clause included within the contract.
Maxwell explained the reasoning behind the length of the commitment, saying: “It’s two cycles and it takes away any of the negativity and any of the instant, ‘He’s only got two years, it’s not gone well, let’s change it..'”
He said Clarke is motivated by a clear ambition to deliver the next step in Scotland’s development on the international stage.
“He wants to build on the legacy by being the one that gets us out of a group stage,” Maxwell said, reflecting the shared determination within the squad.
Maxwell also admitted he feared Clarke could have been lured back into club management following the success he achieved with Scotland.
He said: “The way football works, that’s always in the back of your mind especially when someone is successful.”
Maxwell added: “You’ve always got that niggle that at some point the phone’s going to ring. Thankfully it didn’t and we’re delighted that it hasn’t because we’d never want to lose him.”
Clarke will be 66 years old by the time this latest contract reaches its conclusion, having committed a significant portion of his coaching career to the national team.
About the Author
