STEVE CLARKE said “bye bye, Scotland” as he resigned from his post as international manager in the immediate aftermath of Scotland’s World Cup elimination.
The boss quit as the country’s exit was confirmed when Ghana failed to beat Croatia as their last hopes of getting out of the group stage for the first time in history were eventually extinguished.
Clarke, 62, has called time on his seven years in charge in which he led the country to its first World Cup Finals appearance in 28 years which followed back-to-back European qualifications.
The Scots beat Haiti 1-0 in Boston in the opening Group C , but that was followed by a disappointing 1-0 loss to Morocco at the same venue and Brazil added to the misery with a 3-0 mauling in Miami on Wednesday.
GOODBYE…Steve Calrke cuts short his live TV interview after the 3-0 loss to Brazil.
Hopes of qualification were remote and, once the exit had been confirmed, Clarke, who had signed a four-year extension before the tournament, penned an open letter to supporters.
Sitting at the top of the letter were the words “Bye bye, Scotland.”
It echoed Clarke’s final words to Kilmarnock fans on the pitch at Rugby Park in 2019 as he bid farewell before taking up his post at Hampden when he stated “Bye bye, Celtic” and “Bye bye, Rangers.”
An extract of the letter, revealed on the SFA’s media channels, said: “The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now.
“They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their Gaffer.
“Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor.”
He signed off with “Bye Bye, Scotland.”
