Vogts prepared to name Strachan as successor for Scotland

The Scotland manager, Berti Vogts, has revealed he has approached Gordon Strachan to be his successor.

Ironically, the former Aberdeen player is the man many Scotland fans want to see in charge following Wednesday night's 4-0 defeat to Wales.

However, Vogts' offer was for Strachan to join the national side's coaching staff following his summer hip operation with a view to taking over after the 2006 World Cup finals.

Vogts said: "I will have another talk with Gordon after his operation. I spoke to him three or four weeks ago and he said then he only wanted to work with younger players. I thought that would be perfect - he could work with our Under-16s, Under-17s and Under-19s."

Strachan, who also has managerial experience with Coventry City, is without a job after leaving Southampton. He left St Mary's Stadium this month to speed up the appointment of a successor at the Premiership club after he announced he would quit in the summer.

Vogts said: "He isn't interested in professional football at the moment but I suggested to him if he got back at this level he could take over from me in 2006."

Whether Vogts survives until then remains to be seen as the Scots have let in 10 goals without reply in their last two games. The German coach admitted that he had been contemplating heeding the calls for him to step down. "Yes, I was thinking about those things and in certain moments I have doubted myself," he said. "But I love working here. This is not just a job for me, this is a mission.

"When I go back to Germany in 2006 I hope the house is built for the future of Scottish football. It's a hard job, maybe the hardest I have ever known."