Hadden's contract is due to expire at the end of the World Cup

Hadden's current deal expires at the end of the World Cup and McKie said he was delighted with how Scotland had progressed under the head coach.

"I'm very hopeful Frank will want to stay and build from here. The process is only beginning," he said.

Scotland face Argentina in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Paris on Sunday.

Hadden succeeded Matt Williams as Scotland's head coach in September, 2005.

McKie said the side had blossomed under Hadden's stewardship, and that he was optimistic he would extend his contract.

I'm very hopeful Frank will want to stay and build from here SRU chief executive Gordon McKie

"I certainly hope so," McKie said.

"We've made a lot of progress in the national team over the last 12 months - and indeed the last two years since Frank was appointed.

"Hopefully, we can go forward and make it better."

Meanwhile, Chris Paterson believes Scotland go into Sunday's quarter-final against Argentina as underdogs.

Paterson, who kicked all of the side's points in the 18-16 victory over Italy, said: "We have won games - but we haven't found our edge yet.

"We now go into the quarter-finals with nothing to lose.

Chris Paterson will look to kick Scotland into the last four

"We are underdogs, with all the expectation on our opponents - and we hope we can relax and play some better rugby."

Paterson's heroics against the Italians saw him become the 13th player to score 100 points or more in the World Cup.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot distanced himself from suggestions his side were favourites to progress to the semi-finals.

"I never take statistics or rankings, I don't like them and don't think they are true," he said.

"Even though we may come in ranked higher than Scotland, Scotland proved they are in the best eight teams.

"When the competition started, they were written off and so were we. They are in the same position as us.

"Argentina can't afford to go into a game thinking we are better than anyone."

Team-mate and Leinster centre Felipe Contepomi said he expected Scotland to provide a tough test.

"Scotland will be a very tough game for us - they are playing some good rugby," he said.

"From what I've seen in the World Cup, they have lifted their level up from what we saw in the Six Nations."