Rangers manager Walter Smith says he stands by the comments he made last month in which he said discounted himself from the Scotland job.
The Gers boss was reacting after it became apparent that the SFA will be pursuing an official meeting with him to test his resolve over the Scotland manager’s job.
President George Peat is preparing a shortlist from the 20 applications and potential candidates, but STV understands that the Rangers manager and Dundee United’s Craig Levein top the SFA wish list.
But Smith refused to be drawn, saying “I’ve got no further comment to make than what I said weeks ago.”
Back then Smith said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time as Scotland manager. It was a difficult decision at the time to leave and go back to Rangers. The matter is now closed as far as I am concerned."
Ibrox sources also insisted that Smith would “not be the man to ride to Scotland's rescue this time”.
The SFA have set themselves a February deadline to replace George Burley as the Scotland manager.
