Smith rules out second stint with Scotland

Walter Smith, the Rangers boss who had been regarded as one of the favourites to become Scotland’s next manager, on Friday ruled himself out of a return to the helm of the national squad.

Smith was in charge of Scotland between 2004 and 2007 and was credited with engineering a turnaround in the fortunes of a squad that had fallen to its lowest ever point in the world rankings under his predecessor Berti Vogts.

Smith left during the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign to return to Rangers on a three-year contract which is due to expire in January.

That has created uncertainty over his future but speculation that he might be tempted by a return to international football was quashed on Friday.

“When I left Scotland, we were in the middle of a qualifying campaign,” he said. “After making the decision to leave Scotland at that time, 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.”

Smith was at pains to point out that he had not been approached by the Scottish Football Association about the vacancy created by the sacking of George Burley earlier this week.

“What I am doing is responding to press speculation in a bid to end it as I don’t think it is fair on anyone,” he added.

“The fact is, I left the Scotland job of my own volition. Sometimes when you get the sack, it is actually easier to go back. But when you make your own decision to leave then it isn’t that easy.”

Smith’s statement leaves Dundee United manager Craig Levein as the clear favourite to replace Burley, who was dismissed after 22 months in charge in which Scotland won just three of their 14 matches and failed to reach the World Cup qualifying play-offs.