The Scotland job is Craig Levein’s – if he wants it. There are no obstacles – financial, personal or otherwise – preventing the Dundee United manager from succeeding George Burley.
Jim Jefferies, Jimmy Calderwood, John Collins, Gary McAllister and Billy Stark are among those already linked with the position, as well as the customary left-field applicants such as former Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear and even Ossie Ardiles.
But with Rangers manager Walter Smith lukewarm on a return to the national side, it is Levein who is the front-runner.
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith insists there is no feud between himself and Levein – despite the Arabs manager’s numerous spats with the SFA in recent seasons.
Neither would finances prohibit Levein’s appointment. It would cost the SFA around £250,000 in compensation to Dundee United, a figure it is willing to meet. However, there is unlikely to be any lucrative sponsorship deal similar to Giovanni Trapattoni’s contract with the Republic of Ireland.
Private investment has helped fund the Italian’s £1million annual salary, but the Scotland manager’s income is likely to remain at around £300,000, a figure which rules out candidates employed at the highest level.
Gordon Smith said: “I have no agenda with anyone in football or anybody who would be a candidate. It is not a problem with me and I have never had a problem with Craig. I’m looking for the best candidate for the Scotland job. That is my only consideration.
“It’s not always necessarily finances. If you go out and spend the money and you do not get success, then you have two bad elements – the wrong manager and a very high cost.
“We have a budget we have to spend and money allocated to different aspects of the game. So what you have to do is find the right sort of money to get an international manager.
“I am looking for a manager who has a belief he can do something with this set of players rather than think it is impossible.
“I would not want to appoint anybody who says the players are hopeless.
“We are looking for someone with the experience, authority and reputation in the game to take us the next level, which would mean qualification for the European championships in 2012.”
There will be no speedy appointment, however.
The SFA board will meet early next month to begin the process and the new manager is likely to be in place before the draw for the European championship in February.
Whoever gets the job will have full say on selection issues.
Smith opened the door for returns for international outcasts Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd – if the players are prepared to make a public act of contrition.
Ferguson and McGregor were banned by the SFA in the wake of their drinking binge at Loch Lomond and subsequent childish behaviour after being dropped, while Boyd insisted he did not wish to be considered while Burley was at the helm.
The new incumbent will be free to pick the trio, but only if the SFA board is satisfied the players show sufficient remorse to the paying public.
If the new manager wants to select the exiles, it will then be voted on by the board, although Smith assured they would not stand in the manager’s way.
He said: “The new manager will pick whoever they want provided the players mentioned do want to be involved and they show the supporters they want to play for the national team.
“It is up to them to repatriate themselves, if you like. If that happens and the new manager is inclined to pick them then the board would have no problem with that.
“The manager will have the autonomy to make this decision. I will clarify it with the board when we appoint the new man and work out his responsibilities and I am sure he will have 100% control of the selection process.”