Clarke gave SFA 'a little shove' over new contract
September 5, 2026 10:14
Steve Clarke says he had to prod the Scottish Football Association into offering him a new four‑year contract shortly before this summer’s World Cup, after feeling the governing body was delaying a decision. He told an Edinburgh audience he used media comments in March to accelerate negotiations, which ran from early April until mid‑May and were completed just before the Curacao friendly.
Clarke also reiterated that he intended to step down if Scotland failed to progress from their World Cup group. Scotland finished the group with a 1-0 win over Haiti, a 1-0 loss to Morocco and a 3-0 defeat by Brazil; Clarke described the days waiting in Charlotte while elimination was confirmed as very difficult. He has since spoken with several senior players and with incoming head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.
KEY CONTEXT
- These remarks were made in Clarke’s first public interview since the tournament, at a Spartans Community Foundation event where he was interviewed by Pat Nevin and quoted by The Scotsman.
- Clarke, 63, said he interpreted the SFA’s delay on a new deal as hedging around the World Cup outcome and set a personal deadline: if the contract was not agreed before the squad departed, he would announce his intention to leave.