The next Scotland manager is increasingly likely to be in place by the end of the week.

Scottish Football Association president George Peat has confirmed a meeting on Wednesday stands to be crucial in the process of identifying Alex McLeish's successor.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith has repeatedly stressed an appointment will be made by the end of January, and he and Peat feature on the panel who will conduct a final review of the credentials of the four leading candidates.

Motherwell boss Mark McGhee, Southampton manager George Burley, Celtic coach Tommy Burns and former Rangers and Liverpool chief Graeme Souness are the men in the frame for the job.

Peat told The Herald: "I have an indication of who the favourite is and I think we should be able to sit down by Wednesday and, if not make our representation to the board, then be in a position to conduct one final interview with that candidate.

"Each candidate gave us strong views on how they see the job so it is up to us to narrow the list down, ultimately to a preferred candidate that we can take to the board. Ideally, we would like it to be a unanimous recommendation."

The new manager's first game will be the March 26 friendly against Croatia at Hampden.

McGhee is keen for the appointment to be made.

The 50-year-old emerged as a leading candidate from the moment McLeish resigned on November 27, and has had to deal with questions about the job since then.

He admits Motherwell's players may be being affected by the speculation.

McGhee said: "At first, I didn't think it would have an impact on them, but I'm now starting to worry that it might gave done.

"It can become an obstacle when it's dragging on like this and I just wish they would deal with it, because it's not fair on anyone."

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