The Scottish Football Association would consider a financial sponsor for a new national coach if the preferred candidate is out of their price range. The Republic of Ireland were able to employ Giovanni Trapattoni after entrepreneur Denis O'Brien donated £1.5million to pay half of the former Italy manager's salary over two years.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith will concentrate on compiling a shortlist before deciding whether a similar financial backer is needed.

"We talked about the fact Ireland have Trapattoni as manager but he is sponsored," Smith said.

"But we don't have a sponsor specifically for the manager, that would be another factor completely.

"If we looked at the salary aspect beyond the levels we can afford to pay, and it was someone who was looking for higher, we would have to get a sponsor for that.

"That is something that hasn't really been considered at this moment."

Smith insists there is hope for the future of Scottish football despite criticism of youth development.

Smith was speaking at a festival to mark the success of the SFA and Bank of Scotland's Soccer One programme, which has created more than 1,000 school football teams.

"This is a programme which brings in all the first years at secondary schools but we will also be launching very shortly a Soccer Two programme to bring in second-year pupils," Smith said.

"And by this time next year we will also have a Soccer Three programme and that will involve a lot of kids who never got an opportunity to play the game or even get coaching.

"It's about volunteers as well, young volunteers and students. We give them their coaching course free on the basis that they also volunteer to help run youth football.

"Going forward the game will be in a healthy state. A lot of people are very critical of it, I think more critical than we deserve.

"I think it's a lot more positive but we still have to make sure we put the right things in place."