Gordon Strachan has left his role as Scotland head coach with immediate effect, the Scottish Football Association has announced.

The SFA's eight-man board met today and decided that, following Scotland's World Cup exit, Strachan's contract would not be renewed.

A statement read: "The board of the Scottish FA and Gordon Strachan have agreed that the Scotland national team will be led by a new head coach in preparation for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Gordon's tenure will end with immediate effect along with that of his assistant coach, Mark McGhee."

Scotland are unbeaten in six games this year since both parties decided to continue with the 60-year-old in charge following an indifferent start to the World Cup campaign.

But they missed out on second place in Group F on goal difference to Slovakia, who also failed to make the play-offs after finishing with the worst record of the nine runners-up.

Strachan refused to discuss his own situation after Sunday's 2-2 draw in Slovenia but he stressed how much he enjoyed working with the players.

''I'm the last person I'm thinking about right now,'' the former Coventry, Southampton, Celtic and Middlesbrough manager said.

"Players, staff, fans, family, I want to make sure they're all right. I know the players' families have backed them up and we are looking after them at the moment.

''Me, it's not a problem. I am really proud, really proud of the players.''

The SFA board includes president Alan McRae, vice-president and Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie plus chief executive Stewart Regan. Also listed on the SFA website are Partick Thistle managing director Ian Maxwell, Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney, Scottish Amateur FA secretary Thomas McKeown plus businessmen Barrie Jackson and Gary Hughes.

Scotland's next competitive game will come early next season when the UEFA Nations League kicks off.

Scotland have secured top-seed status in League C, with potential opponents including Greece, Serbia, Albania or Norway from pot two; Montenegro, Israel, Finland or Bulgaria from pot three; and could take on Cyprus, Estonia or Lithuania from pot four.

Success in a three or four-team group would offer a route into a play-off for a place at Euro 2020 if Scotland do not qualify from the conventional group system.