Mathie to retire as Scotland youth coach

Scotland's long-serving youth coach Ross Mathie is to retire in December a month after he turns 65 and has stepped down from his role in charge of the Under-17 team with immediate effect.

Mathie will leave the Scottish Football Association (SFA) after November's U16 Victory Shield match against England but will not be at the helm for their UEFA European U17 Championship qualifying round Group 3 games against San Marino, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey in late October. Responsibility for the Scotland youth sides will fall under the remit of the new performance director, Mark Wotte, and an U17 appointment will be made in due course.

Former Kilmarnock FC player Mathie has a three-decade long association with the SFA, and in that time has led several Scotland teams to UEFA final tournaments, most recently the U17 showpiece in 2008. He has also served as a member of UEFA technical teams at youth final tournaments in the last few years.

An SFA statement read: "Ross has been a loyal servant to the association since he joined as Under-16 coach in 1981. He has been instrumental in the development of countless young professionals over the past four decades, providing experienced coaching at a key stage of player development, as well as instilling the principles of fair play and comradeship within his squads."

Mathie said: "It has been an absolute privilege to have worked with the Scottish FA over the past 30 years, alongside wonderful professional people who have made my time at the association a most enjoyable experience."

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan added: "I would like to thank Ross for his remarkable contribution, not just to the Scottish FA but to Scottish football in general. He will be missed by his friends and colleagues throughout football but also by the players whose lives, not just careers, have been enhanced by Ross's positive influence. "