Group Five Scotland: The Scottish Football Association (SFA) threw guarded support behind Berti Vogts last night, though reality suggests the Scotland coach will be removed should his side lose tomorrow's World Cup qualifier in Moldova.
The SFA's chief executive, David Taylor, insisted Saturday's tame 1-0 defeat to Norway had not affected the body's immediate thinking over Vogts' position. Yet he fell short of offering the German a ringing endorsement, and added: "We'll see where results take us."
Taylor was instrumental in appointing Vogts in 2002, on a basic £500,000-a-year, and was quick to state that the SFA had made a profit five years running, suggesting it would be willing to pay up a contract due to expire in 2006. "But there hasn't been a serious discussion about the manager's position," said the chief executive. "We'd have to believe that any new manager coming in would make a significant difference with this group of players.
"The SFA honours contracts, and change for change's sake is never a good policy."
Vogts and his employers have already agreed to part company should qualification for Germany 2006 be rendered mathematically impossible. Yet so haphazard have Scotland's recent performances become, and with their next qualifier not until the end of March, the board may opt to act sooner should the team be embarrassed in Moldova. That Vogts will have to watch what is potentially his last game in charge from the stands has merely added to the sense of chaos.
FIFA yesterday ruled that the German would have to serve a one-match ban, which could be extended, for his half-time tantrum at the Belgian referee on Saturday which saw him banished for the second half. He has called up the uncapped Wigan forward Lee McCulloch and Aberdeen's Scott Severin. The injured Nigel Quashie remained behind with the suspended James McFadden and Paul Dickov.
Those drop-outs, coupled with the six other senior players currently injured, have given the squad a worryingly makeshift look. "Jock Stein, Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby would have a difficult job with the resources we have now," added Taylor.
