Smith insists Hegarty was not second-choice after Gary McAllister

Gordon Smith insists Scotland manager George Burley has not settled for second-best by appointing Paul Hegarty to his national team backroom staff.

Burley offered the former Dundee United manager a coaching role after Gary McAllister turned down the offer.

The Scottish FA chief executive Smith confirmed last week that Burley had spoken with McAllister, who has since turned down a job with Portsmouth.

"I didn't say that Gary McAllister was taking the job," said Smith.

Hegarty is believed to have accepted the offer as an assistant coach alongside Burley and Terry Butcher, but Smith denies that McAllister was Burley's first choice after Pressley quit his post to concentrate on club football with Falkirk.

"I was only asked whether he was a reasonable candidate for it and I said, 'Yes, I think he's very good'," said Smith.

If Paul Hegarty decides to take the job, we at the SFA would be very pleased to see him on board SFA chief executive Gordon Smith

"I feel the same about Paul Hegarty. He's a guy who's got good respect in the game, from players, former players, team-mates."

Hegarty has been out of work since being sacked by Livingston in June.

"If Paul Hegarty decides to take the job, we at the SFA would be very pleased to see him on board," said Smith.

Stephen Pressley left the role with Scotland saying that he wanted to concentrate on his assistant's role with Falkirk.

And Hegarty admits that he misses the day-to-day involvement of club management.

Smith said he would not have an issue if 55-year-old Hegarty chose to accept an additional job while employed by the SFA.

Pressley and Butcher both continued in their respective roles with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Falkirk while working as part of Burley's Scotland setup.

"The last two guys had club jobs," said Smith.

"There was no problem about them having a club job and if he's happy to combine both then I don't think there's a problem with that."

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