Clarke says standing down 'easy' decision after World Cup exit

Clarke says standing down 'easy' decision after World Cup exitImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Steve Clarke stood down after seven years in charge of ScotlandPublished35 minutes agoSteve Clarke says it was an easy decision to step down as Scotland head coach because he always planned to depart if they did not qualify for the knock-out stages.The 62-year-old told his players on Saturday night, at their hotel in Charlotte, that he was ending his seven-year reign after it was confirmed that the Scots had failed to get out of a group containing Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.The shock announcement came exactly a month after he signed a new four-year contract that would have incorporated Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.A request from the BBC to interview Clarke was declined and, instead, the Scottish Football Association released its own on You Tube, external and the former head coach – heavily criticised in some quarters following back-to-back defeats by Morocco and Brazil – said he was leaving "just because that's the feel".Pampered, protected & primed - so why didn't Scotland players perform?Published3 hours agoNothing off table in Clarke successor search - SFAPublished16 hours agoClarke leaves strong Scotland legacy but exit brings sense of reliefPublished1 day ago"What I wanted to make sure was that when I felt it was time to step away, it was time to step away," he said."Signing the contract before [the World Cup] was a case of trying to give a little bit of comfort to the players knowing that we could continue the journey."I always had in my head that, if we didn't come out of the group, which is something that we've tried to do across three tournaments now, I always had in my head that if that didn't happen then it was probably the right time to step away."Obviously if we'd managed to get that extra point and got out of the group then I'd probably have stayed on and tried to d...