Vogts set for Scotland job

Vogts is said to be interested in succeeding Craig Brown

Former Germany coach Berti Vogts looks set to be appointed Scotland manager in the next fortnight.

Vogts is believed to have emerged victorious from a shortlist of four names.

BBC Scotland reported earlier in December that Vogts was the front-runner for the post.

Also in the running are former Parma coach Nevio Scala, Japan coach Philippe Troussier and ex-Scotland skipper Bruce Rioch.

The 54-year-old Vogts, who won a World Cup winner's medal as a player with West Germany in 1974, is currently on a one-year contract to coach Kuwait.

But he is thought to be available - if compensation is paid to the Kuwaiti Football Association - at the end of January, when Kuwait's participation in the Gulf Cup will have ended.

Vogts would be expected to earn about £350,000 a year, with a 50% bonus if he took Scotland to the finals of the next European Championships and World Cup.

The German is also a close friend of out-going coach Craig Brown.

Progress

Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor is confident they can meet their own deadline for unveiling the new Scotland manager.

The SFA's executive committee had hoped to name Brown's successor in time for the draw for the European Championships, which takes place on 25 January.

Taylor said: "We are now getting towards the end of the procedure for choosing the next manager.

"So far it's all gone to plan and we hope to meet the same deadline that we set a while back for the end of January.

"We have a short list and the number that we are talking about is quite small now but I won't give away any clues."

Brown's contract as team manager officially ends on New Year's Eve.