Craig was a good man and always very supportive.

Clarke's respect for Brown as boss nears milestone

- BY KEITH JACKSON

IT'S not often, over his six and a bit years in charge, that Steve Clarke has had to field questions about Craig Brown and Katy Perry in the same pre-match press conference.

And there's a certain irony in there too because while Clarke seemed largely unimpressed at learning the American sex bomb has been sharing Scotland's plush city centre hotel this week, Brown's mischievous eyes would have lit up like Christmas had just come early.

Not Clarke though.

All this A-lister excitement elicited was a slight sigh and familiar shrug of the shoulders.

He's only got eyes for one thing.

And right now that thing is the three points against Greece tonight which would edge him closer to becoming the first man since Brown himself to lead Scotland to a World Cup Finals.

Coincidentally, Clarke will overtake Brown's mantle as Scotland's longest-serving coach on Sunday when his side complete the second phase of this qualification double header with a visit from Belarus.

And if Clarke can find a way to knock up back-to-back victories then he really will ignite the inky skies over Hampden like a Firework. Sorry.

Which brings us back to Clarke's unexpected house guest who has spent time in Glasgow this week in the latest leg of her Lifetimes world tour. "Is she? I didn't know she was there," Clarke said with the obligatory roll of the eyes when it was revealed to him.