SCOTLAND head coach Steve Clarke has refused to rule himself out of the running for the vacant Celtic manager’s position, saying only that he guarantees to lead his country into the European Championships.

Clarke has declared himself honoured and proud to be the Scotland manager, and says that he would be delighted to go on and take the nation to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

But the former Kilmarnock boss qualified that statement by admitting he can’t predict what the future may hold for him, as he declined the opportunity to declare that he doesn’t want the Celtic job.

“I don’t think it’s my job to knock anything on the head because I’m the Scotland manager,” Clarke said.

“I told you on the steps in Serbia after the game and straight to your faces that I’d be here for Euro 2020. I said I would still be the manager of Scotland.

“If you can tell me that I’ll still be the manager of Scotland come December 2022 in Qatar I’ll be delighted with that as well.

“People can speculate all they want but it’s not my job to get involved in speculation. I can’t knock anything on the head.

“Why would anybody say they don’t want anything? Why would I do that? I could be somewhere else in the summer, I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“Did you know this time last year that we were going to be stuck in the house all this time by a pandemic? Nobody knows what’s going to happen so I don’t think it’s fair that you always say I’ve got to knock it on the head. I didn’t start the speculation.

“I’m delighted and proud to be the manager of Scotland.

“Flattery comes because my players have been fantastic, my staff have been fantastic, and we’ve had a little bit of success. Without the success you don’t get the speculation. That’s the way I see it.”