WE ARE RIGHT BEHIND STEVE

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the shot at next summer's big show in North America.

But Clarke has also come under fire from some sections of the Tartan Army after crashing at last year's Euros amid an uninspiring run of just five wins in the last 22 clashes.

There was also severe flak on the back of the Hampden friendly defeat to Iceland but SFA chief executive Maxwell insists the association are still firmly behind the boss.

There are still hopes Clarke could be persuaded to stay on beyond 2026 but talks are on hold until after the qualifiers.

Maxwell said: “There has been no conversation. He wants to get us to the World Cup and we're all just focusing on that.

“It's my job to have an eye on who's out there at all times because managers leave for a variety of different reasons at a variety of different times, sometimes when you least expect it.