Scottish FA meets to decide Vogts' fate

The Scottish Football Association is poised to begin official talks over the future of the Scotland manager, Berti Vogts, later today at Hampden Park.

The Scottish Football Association is poised to begin official talks over the future of the Scotland manager, Berti Vogts, later today at Hampden Park.

Following last week's 1-1 draw in Moldova, Scotland's chances of reaching the World Cup finals in Germany in two years' time already look doomed. The Tartan Army, of whom almost 2,000 members were present at that game, have lost patience with Vogts and called for him to be sacked. Now it is up to the SFA board, which comprises 11 members, to decide if and when that becomes a reality.

The former World Cup winner Vogts, who is represented by the Swiss lawyer Andi Gross, has refused to resign so the SFA would have to negotiate a six-figure pay-off package and chief executive David Taylor is set to address the meeting on that issue. Bookmakers have installed Walter Smith, the former Rangers and Everton manager, as the favourite to replace him.

Gordon Strachan, a star of the Scotland side in the 1980s, would also be a popular choice, and he too is available, having left Southampton last season.

Friday's meeting is likely to determine the timescale of Vogts' departure and determine how quickly a successor can be appointed. Scotland do not have a World Cup qualifier until March, when they take on group favourites Italy.

They have a friendly at home to Sweden next month - a game which will be played at Hibernian's Easter Road instead of Hampden Park because of fears that the national stadium would be left largely empty. It is expected the new manager will be in place by that game.

Vogts had always been able to count on the support of Taylor, who head-hunted him from Kuwait in the spring of 2002 to be Craig Brown's successor. But the chief executive has already admitted the withdrawal of support from the Tartan Army has made Vogts' position all but untenable.

The German has been forced to bear the brunt of criticism, following frequent defeats in friendly games but had always insisted he should be judged solely on his competitive record.

The Scots reached the play-offs in the Euro 2004 qualification campaign, where they were beaten by the Netherlands. That meant they had missed out on a third successive appearance in the finals of a major tournament. It now looks like becoming a fourth with just two points secured in the first three qualifying games.

A 0-0 draw at home to Slovenia was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Hampden by Norway. That made the Moldova match a must-win game - the draw appears to have sealed Vogts' fate.