Two men should head the list for the vacant Scotland manager’s job and interestingly, both have had comparatively little mention in connection with the post.

While much of the speculation has surrounded the likes of Graeme Souness, Mark McGhee, Billy Davies and Craig Levein, our two men have slipped under the SFA radar. The first has been operating at the highest level of the sport for the last eight years, and has the added advantage of being Scottish, while the other has a managerial record to outshine any of the other leading contenders. Step up Liverpool first-team coach Alex Miller and Finland manager Roy Hodgson.

First let’s look at 58-year-old Miller. As a player he was a first-team regular at Ibrox from 1967 until 1982 with over 300 appearances. After brief spells coaching at Renfrew Juniors and Greenock Morton, Miller joined St Mirren in 1983 and during a three-year spell at the Paisley club he built a side that went on to lift the Scottish Cup shortly after he resigned in the 1986-87 season.

'Hodgson has excellent credentials as an international manager of smaller European nations'

The highlight of the Love Street reign came in 1985 when the Buddies’ foray into Europe saw them knock out Slavia Prague after a 3-0 home win. Miller joined  Hibs in 1986 where he remained for 10 years. He led them to the Skol Scottish League Cup and a third-place finish in the League in 1994-95.

After a short spell as assistant at Coventry City, Miller returned to Scotland to take over the hot-seat at Aberdeen but his time there was an unsuccessful. Yet his abilities were highly regarded and he joined Liverpool, where he still remains as first-team coach.

Hodgson is two years older than Miller and although he is not Scottish,he has excellent credentials as an international manager of smaller European nations. He is probably best known for guiding the Swiss national team to the 1994 World Cup finals and Euro 96, the first time the nation had qualified for a major tournament since the '60s.