It was no real shock on Monday evening when the news broke that Craig Levein had been relieved of his Scotland duties. The national team have endured a miserable 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, picking up just two points from the opening four games that has rooted them to the foot of Group A.
The football under Levein has often been devoid of creative ideas, uninspiring and hasn’t at all suited the players available to the former Dundee United manager. Reports had suggested that his position had been under threat for some time, regardless of the comments of Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam on Sunday.
Now begins the search for the SFA to bring in his replacement, with the likes of Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish mooted as his possible replacement. However, what the nation need now is manager that is going to motivate the players in order to turn the current slump around and see the national team attempt to return to winning ways.
That man is Joe Jordan. The 60-year-old, former assistant to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur has managerial experience at club level and, perhaps more importantly, in England.
It is rumoured that much of the tactical aspects of Redknapp’s tenure at White Hart Lane was undertaken by Jordan. If that is the case, then it’s a better reason for him to take charge of the national team sooner rather than later.
With the former striker also out of work, no compensation will have to be paid for him and with Jordan welcoming the links to take over at the helm; it’ll surely leave him as the favourite to succeed Levein.
His passion for the game will only aid in his quest to turn the fortunes around for the national team, who have been on a downward spiral in recent months. It appears a match made in heaven and the quicker Jordan is drafted in, the better it will be for Scotland.