Scotland’s Clarke open to new players but loyal to ‘core group’

Clarke, 62, resides in England and remarked that it has been “quite amazing to feel the mood of the nation” on his recent trips to Scotland.

“Everyone’s caught up in a little bit of World Cup fever and it’s fantastic,” he told BBC Scotland. “Everybody should be delighted that we’re there.

“Everybody quite likes me at the moment, which is nice, that’s not always the case.”

Clarke, a keen fly fisher, was speaking after helping launch the River Tay salmon fishing season at Kinclaven Bridge.

“I find fishing just relaxing,” he said. “Your head can be full of a lot of things. You start the day with your head in turmoil and by the time you’ve finished fishing, you’re only thinking about catching a fish.

“You get to rest your brain a little bit. I enjoy the solitude, the peace and quiet and having time to myself.

“There’s stress in the job, every single time. Everybody will sort of highlight the big moments and the big tournaments but every time I manage Scotland, when you step out there as the head coach of the team, you feel pressure.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a small friendly match or a major tournament game, I always feel that pressure, I always feel the weight of expectation.

“I always want my team to perform as well as they can play. In football, that’s not always possible but I know the players I’ve got give 100% every time they put on that Scotland jersey.”