Craig Brown approached by Saudi Arabia

Craig Brown has been contacted by managerless Saudi Arabia about leading their team in the World Cup finals.

Craig Brown has been contacted by managerless Saudi Arabia about leading their team in the World Cup finals.

A Saudi Arabia Football Federation spokesman has claimed an approach had been made to the former Scotland manager.

The Saudis were one of the first countries to book their place in next year's finals, topping one of the Asian groups ahead of Iran, who are currently locked in a play-off battle with the Republic of Ireland.

But Brown, who quit after the Scots were pipped by Croatia and Belgium in Group Six, would not shed any light on whether he was tempted by an offer that is sure to be a lucrative, if short-term, one.

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The 61-year-old, who is still the Scottish Football Association's technical director, said today: "I have got absolutely nothing to say on the matter."

Riyadh-based federation spokesman Mohammed Gassem had earlier told The Scottish Daily Mailthat Brown was a target.

He said: "We do not have a head coach and we are still searching for a good one. We have heard about Mr Brown and one of our employees, Abdullah Al-Rajahi from the national team committee, has already contacted him."

It is understood that the appointment would only be until the end of the finals, which would leave Brown open to offers from clubs in Scotland and England.

The current Saudi side has already been coached by three men on the way to Japan and Korea.

Czech Milan Macala was sacked in February, his Yugoslavian replacement Slobodan Santrac lasted only until August and the man who successfully completed the campaign, Saudi Nassas Al-Johar, is only viewed as a stop-gap appointment.

PA