David Moyes is ready to talk to Scotland about becoming the next manager after Gordon Strachan left the job yesterday.
SFA performance director Malky Mackay and Paul Lambert are also in the running after a tenth consecutive failure to reach a major tournament.
Moyes is available after quitting Sunderland at the end of last season and is understood to still prefer a return to club management. Ronald Koeman is under serious pressure at his former club Everton.
But as a proud Scot, the former Manchester United boss will not rule himself of attempting to take his country to Euro 2020.
He told the Sunday Mirror last week: “I want to make sure that my next job ticks all the right boxes. I’m only 54. I still feel young and energised.”
Former international Pat Nevin said: “If it were my choice, I would go for David Moyes and just do that right away.”
Mackay, who was forced to apologise for racist texts sent while Cardiff manager, has resurrected his career north of the border as the SFA performance director. Lambert and Alex McLeish, who had the job in 2007, are also available.
Scotland’s only foreign manager Berti Vogts was a disaster, so Sam Allardyce and Edinburgh-based Michael O’Neill, who has led Northern Ireland to the playoffs, would face opposition.
Former captain Graeme Souness said: “I think there are enough good Scotsmen who can do the job, someone who understands what it is all about up there. I just think it should be a Scotsman. I think there are some fabulous Scottish candidates.”
Scotland are unbeaten in 2017 but missed out on reaching the World Cup playoffs on goal difference after drawing with Slovenia on Sunday.
Strachan, who took the job in 2013, said: “I share the profound disappointment at missing out on the play-offs, especially having worked so hard to fight our way back into contention.”