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Steve Clarke isn’t sure to be stepping down as Scotland manager after the World Cup, so it’s maybe not right to talk about his successor.
If Derek McInnes goes on to win the title with Hearts this season, there will be no need to talk about it. He’ll be a shoo-in, if he fancies it, whether that’s in the summer or two years further down the line after the Euros.
Clarke’s current contract, of course, is up after events in North America. It sounded earlier in the week as though he hasn’t ruled out staying on until 2028, but much depends on how things go against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.
And who knows? Even if things go well, it might result in an offer for the 62-year-old to scratch an itch and have another go at the club game before he retires.
Should his job become vacant with McInnes having guided Hearts to the Premiership, the only conversation that will have to be had is between the SFA, the man himself and his superiors at Tynecastle over the viability of getting a deal done.
Sure, McInnes might fancy carrying on with the Tony Bloom project at Tynecastle. It’s exciting, it will involve Europe and will offer the chance to move the club closer to where it wants to be in terms of increasing investment and fine-tuning recruitment and a player-trading model with the aid of Jamestown Analytics.
Derek McInnes is relishing life in charge of a Hearts side challenging for the Scottish title
Scots boss Steve Clarke recently indicated he could be open to staying on after the World Cup
Hearts enjoy a six-point lead at the top and have had the measure of the Old Firm this year
The Hearts job is one McInnes says he coveted for a long time. He has long coveted the Scotland job, too, though, and no one would blame him if he felt getting out of Hearts at the top with a league title under his belt was a sound career move. Celtic and Rangers, after all, won’t be as bad as this again in future.
If Clarke stays on, though, McInnes will have enough on his hands to stay busy. Whenever the Scotland gig becomes available, having a league title on his CV as a manager will make him an obvious contender.
It will prove he can get teams to punch way above their weight consistently. It will be testament to his powers of organisation and finding ways to win. If Harvey Barnes signs up to play on the left, with Ben Gannon Doak on the right, he’ll even have a couple of high-end wide man available to get Scotland playing the way he likes.
Of course, this whole thing is full of hypotheticals. We’re going round in circles already. For McInnes to become the next king of Scotland-in-waiting, the small business of actually seeing Hearts over the line has to happen.
Yet, there is no reason why it shouldn’t. The Jam Tarts have already won at Ibrox and Parkhead this season. Today’s face-off with Rangers at Tynecastle has the potential to put down another massive marker.
Former Hearts manager Craig Levein, in a midweek podcast appearance, backed his old club for the title and made a very good point. They have more exciting players than the Old Firm right now.
Whether McInnes would be willing to swap jobs is unclear, but he looks the standout candidate
Claudio Braga has become a cult hero. Alexandros Kyziridis can change games. Lawrence Shankland is a proven scorer. Who do Celtic or Rangers have at the front end of the pitch to get their punters out of their seats?
Sure, the Big Two have more money to spend in January. The odds are still against Hearts in the race for the crown.
Managing Scotland is hardly the premier prize on offer, but making history in Gorgie would definitely push open a door McInnes has made no secret of planning to knock on.
What an added incentive that provides for McInnes to keep the Maroon machine rolling over the next five months and becoming the man to make the unexpected happen.
