Scotland manager Steve Clarke has made it his target to fill the empty seats at Hampden Park for September’s European qualifying double header against Russia and Belgium.
Clarke takes charge of his first match since replacing Alex McLeish as national team boss tonight, with Cyprus the visitors in the Group I fixture.
A crowd of around 30,000 is expected for the game, which will mark the beginning of former Kilmarnock manager Clarke’s reign.
The match is quickly followed by a trip to top seeds Belgium on Tuesday, and Clarke feels a strong showing in the double header can boost the numbers for the next round of competitive fixtures.
Clarke said: “I am pretty sure it won’t be a sell-out. But our job as a group is to make sure we get the win we need so that when we come back here in September, the supporters will be with us a little bit more and we get more fans for the two big matches against the so-called big teams in the group.
“If we can get a good points total out of the next two games the supporters will come back. You know football supporters, if your team is successful you get more people coming in.
“When you are winning and winning, eventually they come back. The Tartan Army is maybe a little reduced in numbers at the moment, but you know if the team is winning and the team is positive and it looks as if the team is going to have a chance of qualifying then the supporters will be there.”
All eyes will be on Clarke’s first team selection for the visit of a Cypriot side ranked 89th in the world, however the 55-year-old is well aware of the personal significance of the occasion.
Clarke, who was previously assistant manager at a host of clubs including Chelsea and Liverpool, added: “I said a few weeks ago that it is the pinnacle of my career so far. Hopefully it goes on to be a very successful part of my career.
“In terms of nerves it has been OK. I’m sure come the match I will be quite emotional. To be the manager of your national team is an honour.
“It’s something I’m looking forward to. I will have a lot of family here, so I hope I don’t burst into tears.
“It will be a big moment, but knowing myself quite well I will probably be lost up in the pressure of trying to make sure I’ve got everything right, given all the messages I want to give, and the players are 100% prepared for the game.
“That will be the main focus.”
