Naismith Expects Scotland Role to Continue as Coaching Search Moves On

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

Scotland assistant Steven Naismith has revealed talks over his future with the national team and said he expects to remain involved regardless of who is appointed as Steve Clarke's successor, according to Sky Sports. The same report says Naismith played down David Moyes links, which keeps the story in the realm of transition planning rather than a confirmed managerial path.

The important distinction is that Naismith's involvement appears to be a live discussion, not a completed appointment. Sky's summary does not say a new Scotland manager has been chosen, nor does it say Naismith has signed a new agreement. It says he expects to stay involved and has discussed what that future role may look like.

Why it matters:

National-team coaching changes can create drift, especially when staff, scouting routines and player relationships are reset at the same time. Naismith remaining around the setup would give Scotland a degree of continuity during a change at the top. That does not decide the direction of the team, but it could help smooth the handover for players already used to the current environment.

The Moyes angle is more delicate. David Moyes is a major Scottish coaching figure, so any link to the national role will naturally attract attention. But the supplied source only says Naismith played those links down. That means the responsible read is simple: Moyes talk exists around the story, but this report does not establish him as the next manager or confirm negotiations.

Tournament impact:

For Scotland, the practical consequence is preparation. A successor to Clarke will inherit not just a squad, but a competitive calendar, selection debates and tactical expectations. Keeping Naismith involved could preserve institutional knowledge: which players have adapted well, where the squad has looked thin, and how the group has responded inside camps.

That continuity has limits. A new head coach may still want different assistants, different training priorities and a different tactical structure. Naismith's expected role would matter most if it bridges the gap without preventing the next manager from setting a clear direction.

What to watch:

The next hard signal is the appointment itself. Once Scotland name Clarke's successor, Naismith's position can be judged more concretely: assistant, staff member in a revised role, or part of a wider national-team structure. Until then, the story is about likely continuity beneath an unresolved top job.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: Naismith has held talks about his Scotland future, expects to remain involved, and played down Moyes links. Still unconfirmed: the identity of Clarke's successor, Naismith's exact title, contract terms and the final coaching staff structure.