GRAEME SOUNESS believes the Scottish FA don’t need to turn to a homegrown boss to replace Alex McLeish at Hampden.

Chief executive Ian Maxwell is searching for McLeish’s successor ahead of the double-header with Belgium and Cyprus in June.

Souness was previously overlooked for the top job when George Burley was appointed and said: “It’s a sad situation. I think it comes down to how much can a coach or manager influence it. Or how much influence does he have? 10 per cent, 15 per cent?

“Ultimately, it’s down to what players you have and we’ve been saying for a while we don’t have the quality we once had.

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“I wouldn’t see that (being Scottish) preventing them from getting the right man.

“Certainly not me. I’ve no idea.”

The McLeish era came to a premature end last month following the defeat to Kazakhstan and narrow win over San Marino.

Recent squads were beset by call-offs from a number of high-profile players and Souness said: “[James] McArthur would be down to his age, would he? [Robert] Snodgrass? Early 30s. The boy at Newcastle (Matt Ritchie) I don’t understand, but the other ones I do.

“Listen, the older ones, the two mentioned, would be under pressure from their managers.

“They would be saying to them: You are the wrong side of 30, the demands of football are enormous these days, so save your energy and concentrations for us.That would be the individual’s choice, I get that.

“If I was a [club] manager, I’d be saying exactly the same thing to them. Crystal Palace are for three-quarters of a season in a relegation battle. It’ll be the same next season.”