Strachan set to be new Scotland boss

Gordon Strachan will be named as the new Scotland boss within 24 hours, Press Association Sport understands.

A deal has been done between the Scottish Football Association and the former Celtic manager and he will be presented to the media as soon as loose ends in the negotiations are tied up.

The 55-year-old has been the overwhelming bookmakers' favourite to take the job since Craig Levein departed in November after a poor start to Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign which left hopes of reaching Brazil in 2014 all but over.

Strachan, who won 50 caps for Scotland, enjoyed a successful period at Parkhead between 2005 and 2009 but has been out of management since leaving Middlesbrough in October, 2010.

Strachan's first match in charge will be a friendly against Estonia at Pittodrie on February 6, before a World Cup qualifying double-header in March.

Scotland host Wales at Hampden on March 22 and face Serbia away four days later. The former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds midfielder has made no secret of his desire to manage the national side.

Speaking to ITV in November, he said: "It's quite simple really, it would be an honour to be asked to be the manager of your own national side, it's terrific. I could sit here and say 'yes, it would be great' or 'no, it's not for me' but it would also be arrogant of me to answer that if nobody has asked you and presume that someone will ask.

"Until you've been asked a question about a job, any job, then you really don't know how you'd go about it that's for sure. I wouldn't have the arrogance to think that someone is going to knock on my door."

Reports suggest Strachan will appoint Gary McAllister, his midfield colleague in the Leeds championship-winning side of the early 1990s, as his assistant. Under-21 coach Billy Stark took charge of Scotland's last match, a 2-1 friendly win in Luxembourg in November.

The SFA has announced that they will hold a Hampden Park media conference at midday to introduce their new manager.