MALKY Mackay last night admitted he had no idea that SFA chief executive Stewart Regan would reveal he will not be taking over as Scotland manager before the Netherlands friendly last night.

Regan told talkSPORT yesterday afternoon that Mackay, the SFA Performance Director who had been appointed on an interim basis following the departure of Gordon Strachan last month, was not in contention for the position.

The 45-year-old had refused to rule himself out of the running for the job on a permanent basis in the build-up to the game against the Dutch at Pittodrie.

Read more: Scotland 0, Netherlands 1: Kieran Tierney plays skipper's role as Malky Mackay's young guns are narrowly beaten

Asked if he was aware that Regan would go public on his future prior to kick-off, he said: “No, obviously not. I’m up here in Aberdeen and I was thinking about nothing else than the game.”

The two men spoke on the pitch before kick-off but Mackay, who will now return to his role with the governing body, stressed his position with the national team was not discussed with Regan.

“He was asking me about the team and about the situation with Stuart Armstrong and Scott Brown," he said. "There was no way I wanted to discuss anything other than that. My head was getting ready for the game and that’s what the conversation was about.”

Mackay added: “I did enjoy it, but I know my role. They brought me into the role and they’ve asked me to commit to it. I’ve only been in it 10 months and the fact the last performance director wasn’t in it very long means there is a need for stability.

Read more: Scotland 0, Netherlands 1: Kieran Tierney plays skipper's role as Malky Mackay's young guns are narrowly beaten

“That’s what I was asked to do up until two weeks ago when something changed at the top level. Because it was so close to the friendly somebody needed to take the team. Obviously I have a level of Premier League experience. But that was all I was asked to do - take the Holland friendly.

“I wouldn’t imagine I’ll be in charge for the next friendly. I’ll go back to my day job tomorrow. We have a staff in place. That’s what I’ll be heavily involved in, putting in place a staff which surrounds the senior squad. I want it to be a certain fashion, like a Champions League club.

“There is a sub-committee involved in picking the new manager. I don’t think I’ll be involved in that. If I’m asked my opinion, fine. All I’ve been doing in the last week was making sure the preparation was right to go and play Holland."