ALEX RAE has urged the Tartan Army to get behind Alex McLeish after he was appointed as Scotland manager for a second time.

The Scottish FA brought their protracted search for Gordon Strachan’s successor to a close last week as McLeish clinched a return to Hampden on a two-year deal.

Rae was part of the Rangers side that won the league title under McLeish in 2005 and went on to work with the 59-year-old at Belgian outfit Genk.

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And the former Light Blues midfielder is pleased to see McLeish back in the dugout as he looks to guide Scotland to the European Championship finals in two years’ time.

Rae told SportTimes: “I am absolutely delighted for him and I was on the phone to him the other week wishing him all the best.

“I have been championing him for months now and I always felt, even before Michael O’Neill and Walter were offered the job, that Big Alex had a lot to offer.

“I felt he should have been interviewed before these guys so I am delighted that he is back in amongst it and I hope he gets a fair crack at the whip.

“There will always be some for you and some against you but he has plenty of belief in himself after what he has done in the game and he is probably better placed now than he ever has been to take over the national team.

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“It is beside the point whether they offered Michael O’Neill or Walter the job now. The fact is, he is in post now and everyone should get behind him.

“We will see over the next couple of months how some of the younger guys are doing and he has good experience there as well.

“There is the nucleus of a decent squad so hopefully he can get off to a flyer and get some momentum going into the campaign.”