Calderwood on Scots' new horizon

Sir Alex Ferguson was back in Glasgow last week, naming a train after Sir William Smith, the founder of the Boys Brigade. Berti Vogts should not expect a similar tribute if he departs on time from Hampden Park this Thursday.

Sir Alex Ferguson was back in Glasgow last week, naming a train after Sir William Smith, the founder of the Boys Brigade. Berti Vogts should not expect a similar tribute if he departs on time from Hampden Park this Thursday.

Fergie may be the onetime shipyard apprentice who rose above his station but Vogts's grand dream for Scotand has well and truly come off the rails. Knighthood? Nightmare, would be more accurate.

When the Scottish Football Association's international board convenes this week, it will surely be to simply rubber-stamp a severance pay-off for the man who promised to deliver a place at the 2006 World Cup finals but has won two points out of nine to put the seal on an ignominious 32 months in charge.

If Ferguson felt a touch of guilt at the naming ceremony at Central Station, he did not display it. The Manchester United manager - who briefly took charge of Scotland at the 1986 World Cup finals after the death of Jock Stein - helped the SFA sift through the applicants three years ago and recommended that they go for the man who guided Gemany to triumph at Euro '96.

Even if Ferguson does not endorse a successor, he is linked to just about every serious contender. Gordon Strachan was his player at Aberdeen and Manchester United, even if relations were strained, while Walter Smith - who steered Rangers to nine Scottish titles between 1989 and 1997 - sat alongside his friend last season as United's assistant manager.

Alex McLeish - who played for Fergie in the Aberdeen side that won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1983 - might fancy the relative security that goes with the Scotland post after possibly taking Rangers as far as a club that is £70 million in debt can go. However, it is one of Ferguson's successors at Aberdeen who could enhance his own candidacy today.

Jimmy Calderwood was virtually unknown in his native Scotland when he returned in 2000 after 20 years playing and coaching in Holland. Yet, his reputation after guiding Dunfermline back into the Scottish Premier League and then into Europe, via their first Scottish Cup final in 36 years, has become higher since joining Aberdeen during the summer.

Calderwood inspired Aberdeen to wreck Celtic's unbeaten league record last Wednesday by winning at Parkhead and a return ticket to Glasgow today could see Aberdeen supplant Rangers in second place if they win at Ibrox. Like Ferguson, Calderwood was born just around the corner, in Govan, and like his more celebrated neighbour he shares a knack for upsetting the establishment.

Calderwood learned at the Dutch FA's coaching school alongside Louis van Gaal and has a tactical flair that hints at a continental influence. However, he is also an impressive motivator, as is Craig Levein, another candidate, who was removed from the equation after Leicester City lured him from Hearts on Friday. Indeed, the SFA might also miss out on Strachan now that the Premiership has a few job openings.

It is ironic that at a time when Scotland's international stock has plunged to a new low, there are Scots whose managerial ability makes them too rich for their country's blood: Ferguson is only interested in retirement - whenever that is - after Old Trafford, while Graeme Souness and David Moyes would not take a pay cut to leave Newcastle United and Everton.

"It is a real task," admitted Ferguson. "Sometimes when you manage your country, like I did in 1986, you have more talented players. I had better ones then and it's been more obvious over the last decade that the talent is not the same. It is a very difficult job. Would I take it? No chance - I'll be glad to retire.

"I'm not saying we have no talent. We have some very good youngsters like Darren Fletcher and James McFadden. However, it is a very difficult task to manage Scotland at this time. For anyone coming in, it will be the same - and the supporters have to realise that. However, I think some people should realise what Berti Vogts has done. He's given a lot of young players their opportunity."

That has not stopped Scotland from missing their connection for Germany 2006. Management is a results-driven business and on Thursday, Vogts will surely be on the last train out of Glasgow clutching a one-way ticket home.