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.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel