Celtic fan turns Luis Palma super agent as Rangers Hotline cynics reminded of lofty sums behind Jota transfer

The Tartan Army are gearing up for a Euros qualification party at Hampden tonight. And while it appears some will never be completely won over by Steve Clarke there’s a growing feeling on the Hotline that the Scotland boss now stands up there with the best.

Three months after celebrating his 60th birthday Clarke hit the 50 mark for games in charge of his country. Only Jock Stein, Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown had reached that milestone before him. And with a second major championships appearance secured, the Tartan Army were in grateful mood.

Andrew Wilson, Cambuslang, said: “Fair play to Clarke for the work he has done with this Scotland squad. He’s matched or bettered the achievements of all his predecessors by qualifying for a second major tournament and taken decent players onto a new level. I reckon he’ll break new ground in Germany by taking us through the group stage.”

A little less gushing but equally appreciative, Andy Lanigan, Bishopbriggs , said: “Some callers are dismissing comparisons between Clarke and Jock Stein. I’m not a great fan of Clarke, but he has worked wonders with players who are not in same class as the ones Stein had.

"Despite having Souness, Hansen, Dalglish, Strachan and others at their peaks, Stein qualified for one tournament outright, set up a play-off for another and failed in two others. Not a great record, considering the talent he had to pick from.”

Caller John Allardyce claimed after the Georgia draw that Scotland players are “kidding themselves on” if they think they can reach the knockout stages in Germany. But Martin Leggat emailed: “How stupid is Mr Allardyce? If Stuart Armstrong does not think they can get through the group stages in Germany, neither he nor the team should be