Kris Boyd believes the "disgraceful" abuse aimed at Steve Clarke may have prompted his exit after the World Cup.
The head coach called time on his seven year stint as boss at Hampden Park following a disappointing tournament where his side finished third in their group.
Their victory over Haiti was not enough to see them through to the knockout stages and, after a 3-0 loss to Brazil, a section of the Tartan Army and Scotland fans back home called for their boss to leave.
Clarke had just signed a four-year contract extension before the competition and Boyd reckons that points to the fact Clarke may never have had any intention of departing after this summer.
But the criticism from fans could be what tipped him over the edge. He told Sky Sports: "A lot of people have had a lot to say about Steve Clarke in recent times, and I think he had enough of the criticism and decided to call it a day.
🗣️ "The criticism has been well over the top, we had two of the top ranked nations in our group." Kris Boyd believes Scotland were unlucky to be drawn against Brazil and Morocco at the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/mANVhymmC3
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) June 28, 2026
"You know when you become a manager that you're going to be criticised. He wouldn't have signed a four-year deal a few weeks ago if he felt as if Scotland had reached their maximum.
"It's interesting it was four years. It could quite easily have been a two-year deal. He felt as if there were enough players and youngsters coming through to give them the best opportunity to go and qualify for the next World Cup, or he wouldn't have signed it.
"I know what kind of man he is. It wouldn't surprise me if he stepped away from the SFA without taking a penny.
"A lot of the criticism that has been flying around for the last three or four days has been an absolute disgrace. For someone who has given a lot of fans the best time of their life in terms of following their country, because it's been a long, long time.
"They've spent a lot of money, I understand that. But there have been people before willing to spend a lot of money, but haven't been able to do it because the team hasn't reached major tournaments. This team has done that under Steve Clarke, and still been criticised.
"It might take people a few years to step back and realise what Steve Clarke has achieved."
