Smith applauds Scotland bonus vow

WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING GROUP NINE
MACEDONIA v SCOTLAND
Venue: City Stadium, Skopje Date: Saturday, 6 September Kick-off: 1400 BST Coverage: BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sport website

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Gordon Smith is delighted at the squad's attitude over bonuses

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has praised the national team's pledge to forgo win bonuses unless they make the World Cup.

The same arrangement was in place for the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and Smith has managed to renew this.

"The players deserve great praise," said Smith ahead of Scotland's first fixture against Macedonia on Saturday.

"It's a fantastic attitude that they will only accept a bonus they have earned through genuine success."

A formal agreement has yet to be reached on precisely how much the squad will receive should they qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa, but Smith could not be more pleased with the players' attitude to the issue.

"That money can be spent in other areas, rather than paid out to the squad with each succeeding game," he added.

Smith insists no-one will be more delighted than him if he is eventually forced to cough up the cash.

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He said: "Qualification for the World Cup finals, of course, would ensure further revenue for the association - and for the players who have taken the national team there.

"Only results will decide the outcome of the campaign, but I feel we can qualify."

Scotland's campaign begins in Macedonia on Saturday, followed by Wednesday's trip to Iceland.

Group Nine also contains Norway and European heavyweights Holland.

Smith added: "Holland are obvious favourites, but the fight for second place is on.

"Remember, too, that Italy only made sure of second place in our European qualifying group in the very last match of the series."