Former Hibernian and Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson has sensationally thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant Scotland head coach position, proposing a star-studded backroom team including national icon Ally McCoist, Celtic great Scott Brown and former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson.
The 64-year-old, currently based in Africa after spells managing Kenya and Uganda, admits that his own name might not thrill the Tartan Army, but believes the collective pedigree of his proposed coaching staff could ignite the nation.
Williamson's Bold Pitch
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Williamson revealed he has already attempted to contact SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell to discuss his vision, but has yet to receive a response.
"I tried to get through to Ian Maxwell and the president, but it's not happened and I've obviously got someone else working on that to see if it is worth pursuing,"Williamson said.
The former striker, who spent his playing career at Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Rotherham United and Kilmarnock, has been out of club management for a decade but says reading about Steve Clarke's resignation prompted him to act.
"I am not going to excite the Tartan Army, I know that for a fact, but maybe with these future international coaches getting a go at it, that might excite them because of what they achieved with Scotland and their club sides."
The Dream Team: McCoist, Brown and Thomson
Williamson's proposed coaching ticket leans heavily on Old Firm legends. Ally McCoist, the former Rangers manager who also assisted Walter Smith with the national team, was the first to sign up.
"So my first text message was to Alistair McCoist and I said I am thinking about doing this and he said 'I'm in',"Williamson revealed.
Scott Brown, who captained Celtic to a host of trophies, and Kevin Thomson, a key figure in Rangers' run to the 2008 UEFA Cup final, were then approached by Williamson, who managed both as youngsters at Hibernian.
"Both of these guys have played numerous games for Scotland, they have played at the top level,"Williamson argued.
"They certainly have that knowledge, but they have not really experienced the coaching side of the game at that level and I thought, if I could help these guys, it would give Scotland options down the line and maybe some continuity."
Williamson's International Credentials
While his last domestic job was at Kilmarnock in 2014, Williamson points to his experience with African national teams as a key asset. He led Uganda to the 2011 CECAFA Cup and won the Kenyan league title with Gor Mahia.
"In Uganda, we were getting 60,000 every home game — very passionate fans — and I handled that pressure okay,"he said.
"I know the passion of the Scottish fans well and they don't want to be let down and I thought 'could I give it a go?'."
Williamson also guided Kilmarnock to Scottish Cup success in 1997 and won promotion to the Championship with Plymouth Argyle. However, he concedes his decade-long absence from the dugout may count against him.
Key Takeaways
- Bobby Williamson has put himself forward as Scotland head coach with a backroom team of Ally McCoist, Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson.
- Williamson has not yet heard back from the SFA, and acknowledges the governing body likely has other candidates in mind.
- He believes his international experience with Kenya and Uganda, plus the iconic status of his proposed assistants, make a compelling case.
- McCoist, a former Rangers manager and Scotland assistant, is fully on board, while Brown and Thomson would gain first international coaching experience.
- Williamson admits he is a long shot but hopes his "dream team" vision can sway the SFA.
Quick Facts
Current SFA chief executive: Ian Maxwell
Outgoing head coach: Steve Clarke
Williamson's last management role: Gor Mahia (Kenya) – 2014
McCoist's Scotland coaching experience: Assistant to Walter Smith (2004-2007)
Williamson's Scottish Cup win: 1997 with Kilmarnock
While the SFA is widely expected to pursue a high-profile appointment, Williamson's audacious pitch adds an intriguing twist to the search for Scotland's next leader.
