UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Alex McLeish quits as Scotland coach after 10 months

The Scottish Football Association announces that Alex McLeish has resigned his position as Scotland's national team coach after 10 months in charge. Alex McLeish has quit as Scotland's national team coach after 10 months, the Scottish Football Association said on Tuesday (November 27). McLeish, who narrowly missed out on leading the Scots to next year's European Championship, resigned with immediate effect, the Scottish FA said. McLeish has been linked with the vacant manager's post at Birmingham City, who have called a news conference for Wednesday when the former Aberdeen defender and Rangers manager is expected to be named as the replacement for Steve Bruce. Bruce this week left to join Wigan Athletic. SFA president George Peat said in a statement: "I am disappointed that Alex has chosen this course of action. "He is an outstanding manager who has done a fantastic job with the national team." "Everyone at the SFA and indeed Scotland fans around the world were looking forward to Alex leading us into the World Cup qualification campaign. "This is why we chose to offer Alex an extended contract while we were in South Africa. Sadly, he has chosen not to take up this offer." McLeish, who took over from Walter Smith in January, had a contract until the 2010 World Cup but can expect to enjoy a huge salary hike by moving to the Premier League.

ITN Source | November 28, 2007

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