Football: It's a shame, he was best man for job; STURROCK LEADS

PAUL Sturrock, the former Scottish international who has just won an award for his management skills, believes Craig Brown should have carried on as coach of the national side.

Brown announced his decision to quit as team boss after last night's 2-1 victory over Latvia at Hampden

But Sturrock, boss of Plymouth, whose name has even been mentioned in connection with the Scottish job, insists the SFA will find it very hard to replace Brown/

Sturrock, who was manager of the month in the English Third Division following Plymouth's fine start to the season, said: "No- one knows those players better than Craig and he has done a great job.

"He was just starting to bring some youngsters through, he was creating a new era and he had his finger on the pulse of what is needed.

"I am disappointed that Craig goes has gone. I don't believe there is the need for one person to be the manager and another to be technical director.

"The same person should do both those jobs and I am disappointed at the way things have turned out."

"We are a small nation and for the population we have, he has done well with the side. They know him, he knows them and keeping to what you know is always important."

Sturrock is widely respected as an excellent coach and if he succeeds in getting Plymouth promoted his name will start to be linked with quite a few managerial vacancies.

The former Dundee United striker is seen as someone who is climbing the ladder towards managing the national team, but for the moment he is excited at the prospect of reviving Plymouth.

The club are completely rebuilding their Home Park stadium and Sturrock's rebuilt team have recovered from an indifferent start and are currently tucked in nicely behind the Third Division leaders.

The Manager Of The Month Award was a nice way to complete his first year in charge at the club after spells with St Johnstone and Dundee United.

He's been linked with the vacant manager's job at Motherwell, but is currently talking to the Argyle board about a new contract and it looks unlikely that he would be tempted to return to Scotland.

He said: "It can be so rewarding setting a target and hopefully achieving it.

"We would like to be in the top part of the Second Division but things like that cannot be done just like that.

"You have to plan and build over a period of time and that is exactly what I want to do."

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