3 weeks ago
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Tuesday's dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark to secure World Cup qualification for the first time in 28 years was the "best night in the history of Scottish football", according to Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell.
He told BBC Radio Scotland "that's a conversation for another day" when asked if head coach Steve Clarke might extend his contract beyond the end of next summer's tournament in United States, Canada and Mexico.
But Maxwell suggested: "I think he's now earned the title of 'Sir'."
Stunning goals from Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, plus a tap-in from Lawrence Shankland's tap-in, secured a stoppage-time victory at Hampden that meant Scotland leapfrogged the visitors to win Group C.
"I don't think anybody knows the word to describe it, it was just an insane 90 minutes of football," Maxwell said.
"The football as a standalone 90 minutes was incredible, but when you add the additional context of having not been to a finals since 1998 and the disappointment that everybody felt on Saturday when we lost in Athens.
"To then have the high of actually still having a chance and watching the game unfold the way it did, it was just an absolutely incredible night and, for me, it's got to be the best night in the history of Scottish football."
Clarke, whose contract expires at the end of next summer's World Cup campaign, has become the first Scotland boss to lead their country to three major tournaments.
Despite previously saying he was 75% sure he would leave at the end of his current deal, the 62-year-old admitted post-match on Tuesday that "the door is always open" to an extension.
However, Maxwell said: "That's a conversation for another day. This is just about enjoying the moment, enjoying qualification and getting ready for what will be an unforgettable summer.
"He's been incredible. When we appointed him six years ago, if anybody said this was going to be how the next six years would look, we would've all bitten your hand off for it.
"I'm delighted for him and I'm delighted for the group of players. They work ever so hard, they get their fair share of stick when things don't go well and it's really important that we give them as much praise as they're due because it's been incredible for the country.
"We've got a massive tournament coming up, everybody is focused on going there and doing the best we can."
The Scottish FA is also expected to receive a significant cash bonus as reward for qualification, but Maxwell was unable to confirm how much that may be.
"I've not spent any time thinking about the finances, I've genuinely not," he added.
"You're always reticent to look too far into it in case you start to jinx things, but we know from our Euros experience that it does bring in significant revenue.
"There are significant costs attached to getting everybody over to America and making sure we're as prepared as we can be and doing it as properly as we can.
"As an association, we've made no secret that facilities are a real priority for us. Through our 'Pitching In' fund, we've committed to investing as much as we can in facilities up and down the country."
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