Hegarty Answers Scotland's Call Again

Steven Pressley's replacement in the Scotland set-up is thought to be Paul Hegarty. The former Dundee United stalwart has been out of work since being sacked by Livingston this summer. He spent most of his playing career at Tannadice, during which time he won eight Scotland caps. It is expected that Hegarty will be officially unveiled on Thursday when manager George Burley names his squad for next month's friendly in Japan. Falkirk coach Pressley quit Burley's backroom team last week, over his frustration at a lack of involvement in tactics. Former Scotland midfielder Gary McAllister rejected the chance to replace him, preferring instead to seek a full-time role in English club football.

Hegarty began his playing career as a striker at Hamilton but was converted to a centre-half after joining United in 1974. He became a legend at Tannadice, captaining the side during their most successful era. He led them to their first ever major trophy in 1979, the Scottish League Cup, which they retained the following year. He was also a key member of the 1983 Scottish championship-winning team and played some part in the club's run to the 1987 UEFA Cup final. Hegarty made his international debut in 1979, earning seven caps before a three-year absence from the side. He then captained the side against Northern Ireland in his final appearance in 1983. After leaving United in 1990, Hegarty joined St Johnstone before becoming player-manager at Forfar. He returned to Tannadice in a coaching capacity and performed similar roles at Hearts and Aberdeen before becoming interim manager at Pittodrie in 1999. United came calling again and he was eventually promoted to the managerial hotseat on a caretaker basis in October 2002. He was sacked in January 2003 and went back to coaching, joining Livingston and Dunfermline before becoming assistant boss at Motherwell. Maurice Malpas' sacking as manager two years ago led to Hegarty's departure and last year he took up a scouting role with Scotland under Burley. He was appointed Livi boss in December but lasted just four months at Almondvale before being suspended by then-chairman Angelo Massone, with the controversial Italian confirming his sacking two months later.