Scotland boss Alex McLeish insists he's committed to his contract.

McLeish has been linked with Birmingham City, but said: "I can't help the speculation over my future, although I'm flattered by it.

"Of course, football is an unpredictable business, but I have no plans to vacate my present position. But that's how it's been throughout my career.

"I've never mapped out my career with specific ambitions or plans, I've always ad-libbed it. I mean, I didn't plan to manage Motherwell, Hibs, Rangers or Scotland. These things just develop. I guess that's how it will be with the next stage, whatever it is.

"I'm contracted to the SFA until 2009 and Gordon (Smith, the association's chief executive) and I haven't spoken about a renewal or anything like that. There's no great rush and I'm sure he wouldn't want to press me into rushing into a decision. Being here till 2009 seems fair, it seems at the moment like a long time in the job."

McLeish did admit that the nine months between now and Scotland's involvement in their next competitive series of matches is a long time between engagements. It is a prospect he clearly finds unappealing.

"I haven't experienced that kind of fallow period yet," he said, "but, at the moment, it does seem a long way away. And I've no doubt I'll miss the kind of action that's been going on over the past few months."