Scots turn to Smith as Vogts pulls over

Walter Smith is set to be entrusted with restoring Scotland's tattered reputation after Berti Vogts' increasingly vilified reign ended with the German's resignation as national coach yesterday. It is expected Smith will take charge for the friendly against Sweden at Easter Road on November 17th.

Vogts' troubled term was expected to be ended after a Scottish Football Association meeting on Thursday but he took matters into his own hands with a "heartbreaking" decision - accompanied by a bitter parting shot. He said: "the major factor has been disgraceful abuse" in which he had "been spat upon".

Almost until the end the 57-year-old Vogts remained convinced he could turn Scotland's fortunes around but the increasing weight and ferocity of criticism since last month's dismal 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Moldova eventually got to the man known as Der Terrier in his distinguished playing days in Germany.

Vogts' resignation, accepted by SFA officials John McBeth and David Taylor, was accompanied by his statement, saying: "With great reluctance myself and the Scottish Football Association . . . have made a joint decision to close this chapter in my life at the helm of Scottish international football.

"The decision has been made with a heavy heart as I have enjoyed my tenure at the hub of the Scottish football team and the warmth that I have experienced from the people of Scotland."

But then he turned to the abuse he had suffered "especially of late. It has degenerated into a physical nature, especially on recent occasions where I have been spat upon. This is not acceptable behaviour in a civilised society and I know that the vast majority of Scots will join me in my disgust at this act by a very tiny minority."

So ends Scotland's own Continental experiment, which started with the man who led Germany to Euro 1996 triumph in England succeeding Craig Brown in March 2002.

Now Scotland will turn to one of its own again with Smith, highly successful at Rangers but less so later at Everton, taking on arguably his most formidable managerial job at the age of 56.

Gary Megson and Jean Tigana, meanwhile, are favourites to succeed Dave Jones, who was sacked yesterday by Wolverhampton Wanderers, who lie 19th in the Championship after their relegation from the Premiership in May.

Jones, who was appointed manager in January 2001, ended the club's 19-season exile from the top flight two years later. But one season was all they could manage in the top division and his dismissal follows Saturday's defeat at Gillingham by opponents who played with 10 men for 79 minutes. The result left Wolves four points above the relegation zone.

The Wolves chairman Rick Hayward described the display as "disgraceful" and said it was "the last straw" as far as Jones was concerned. Assistant manager Stuart Gray will take temporary charge.

Megson, who parted company with West Bromwich Albion last week, has twice guided West Brom to promotion, while there is a school of thought in the Wolves boardroom, that the club need to appoint a foreigner.

Former Fulham manager Tigana is understood to be highly thought off as a result of guiding the London club into the Premiership by playing attractive football.