Clarke sure he's best man for Scots after new deal

"It keeps the stability around the position of the squad and hopefully the future of Scottish football," he explained. "It gives everybody clarity moving forward.

"At the end of it, it was quite an easy decision because obviously I know how much the players enjoy being together. I know how they enjoy working with myself and the staff. It just felt right to continue."

The former Chelsea and Kilmarnock manager believed he was better placed to lead the team than a new manager at this juncture.

Before Saturday's friendly with Curacao at Hampden, he added: "I've been looking at the younger ones and you're thinking, 'OK, what's there for the future'?

"Between tournaments, between the first Euros and the second Euros, there was about nine, 10 changes. Between the second Euros and this World Cup squad, there's another nine, 10 changes. And you're looking down and thinking, 'OK, can I find more? Is there more down there, is there more talent?'

"It's still our job to try and find competition for them so that you've got maybe got a younger one coming up and you're saying, 'well I think in four years' time, this one's going to be better than that one and it's time for the old guys to step aside'.

"There is a natural evolution. Sometimes people want an evolution quickly. We've shown that, with the stability we've had over the last seven years, it's a pretty good way to work."