New approach to Walter Smith to take Scotland helm

Rangers manager Walter Smith has refused to comment on new reports again linking him with the Scotland job.

Smith, 61, ruled himself out when George Burley was sacked last month.

Speaking at the time, the veteran boss said: “I don’t feel it would be right to go back and that is the situation. The matter is now closed as far as I am concerned.”

But the SFA appears undeterred in its efforts to see Smith reinstalled in the post he quit to return to Rangers back in January 2007.

The SFA board met at Hampden yesterday where it reportedly decided to approach Smith and persuade him to consider a second spell at the Scotland helm.

That phone call has yet to be made and, so far, there has been no contact between the two parties.

But when quizzed about the Scotland job yesterday, Smith appeared to stand by the statement he made in the wake of Burley’s sacking, insisting: “I’ve got no further comment to make on that aspect at all.”

Dundee United boss Craig Levein remains a frontrunner for the job, along with Smith, despite the Tannadice club’s reluctance to lose its manager.

Dan Petrescu – who masterminded Unirea Urziceni’s 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox and who could yet lead the Romanian club into the last 16 of the Champions League – has not applied for the vacancy.

However, it is understod that the former Chelsea star’s representatives have made it known he would be interested if approached by the SFA.

Meanwhile, Celtic midfielder Barry Robson has urged the SFA to appoint his former boss Levein as national team manager to replace the sacked Burley.