Alex McLeish is odds-on favourite to be the next Scotland manager after he held talks with the Scottish Football Association.

The 59-year-old has emerged as the leading candidate, after Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill rejected the chance to take-over and another former boss Walter Smith backed away from the prospect of returning.

The SFA – who also need a new chief executive after Stewart Regan quit – have spoken to McLeish, who previously served as Scotland boss in 2007 before he left to take charge of Birmingham City.

Now McLeish could be in line to be named Scotland boss, ahead of their next game which is a friendly with Costa Rica next month.

McLeish is now 2/7 to take charge with BetVictor, which is just under 80% probability.

BetVictor’s Head of ante post Football Michael Triffitt commented: “With Michael O’Neill and Walter Smith both walking away from discussions after been odds on for the role, the SFA will not want the embarrassment of an unwanted hat trick and must find someone who will say yes this time!

“McLeish has recently been well backed from 6/4 into 2/7 with the end perhaps now looking in sight. Fans are still clambering for Kilmarnock gaffer Steve Clarke however and the 8/1 proved popular this morning and he is now just 5/1 after doing a fantastic job at Rugby Park.

“Plenty of other names are still doing the rounds but if money talks it will be McLeish who takes charge of Scotland’s next competitive game against Albania in September.”