KENNY MILLER is at least one Scotland supporter not worried about who the next manager is going to be.
As disappointed as he was when Walter Smith, within the space of a week, moved from No1 target to out of the running, the former international striker still has high hopes for what happens next.
Miller, who scored 18 goals in 69 internationals, worked with Alex McLeish with club and country, and played alongside Gary Caldwell and Neil Lennon, both of whose names have been mentioned as possible replacements for Gordon Strachan.
And he has good things to say about all the candidates – at least until the SFA force them out of contention.
"Alex's tried and tested, that's for sure,” said Miller. “I know there's been a lot of coverage surrounding it, people not taking it more than anything, but I still feel there's a good list of candidates.
“From Walter who has distanced himself from it which is disappointing to Alex McLeish who has been there, managed at a high level of club football to Gary Caldwell, an old colleague of mine, a fantastic player for Scotland who's probably had a raw deal in management so far in my opinion.
“He has great ideas, is very passionate and clear on what he wants to do as a coach.
“Then there's Neil Lennon, whose name has been thrown in, who's doing a fantastic job at Hibs with a young hungry team.
“So there's a good list of candidates, who I think could take the nation forward and ultimately give us what we all want, which is to make a major final. Walter's name made sense, it ticked a lot of boxes. I don't know why it took so long, maybe they wanted to give the Michael O'Neill route the best possible opportunity, so now it's on to Plan B or Plan C.”
“You look back to campaigns where we’ve been very unfortunate, the high-luck Scotland stories I’ve lived a career of them but these guys are very capable of coming in and doing the job very well.”
Miller is hoping to get some action at Ayr for the first time since pulling his hamstring in mid-December.
And he has his eye on adding third Scottish Cup winners’ medal to his collection.
Miller said: “It’s an opportunity to win a trophy. It’s been seven years since that happened which is far too long for this club. It’s a chance to progress to a quarter-final and the aim is to win it at the end.
“It is a game which has to be dealt with in a professional manner and I’m looking forward it. I’m hoping to get some game-time.”
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