Steve Clarke leaves Scotland as head coach – full letter to fans

Steve Clarke has written directly to supporters of the Scotland national team after leaving his role as head coach. BBC Sport published Clarke’s letter in full on 28 June 2026; below we present key excerpts, context on the departure and what comes next for the national side.

Steve Clarke letter to the Tartan Army

The following passages are reproduced from Steve Clarke’s farewell letter as published by BBC Sport. These excerpts are presented here with direct attribution to Clarke and to BBC Sport, which published the full text on 28 June 2026.

“Thank you to the Tartan Army for the unwavering support you have shown me and the squad. It has been a privilege to represent our country in this role and to share many memorable moments with you all.”

“I am proud of what we achieved together, proud of the players, the staff and the supporters who stood by us through highs and lows. Leaving the post is not easy, but I do so with gratitude and many fond memories.”

“This is my farewell to the fans. I will always cherish the time I had in this job and the chance to work for Scotland.”

These lines are presented as excerpts from Clarke’s letter; readers who wish to read the full unedited text should consult the BBC Sport article linked in the source attribution below.

Key lines from the letter

Several short, repeatable themes appear in Clarke’s note and were highlighted by BBC Sport’s presentation of the full text:

• Direct thanks to the Tartan Army for their support at home and abroad.
• Expressions of pride in the players and staff who worked under Clarke’s leadership.
• A personal sign-off framed as a farewell rather than an operational account of internal events.

What is known about the departure

BBC Sport has confirmed that Clarke has left the role and has published his farewell letter in full. The broadcaster’s coverage presents Clarke’s own words and frames them as a primary source; it does not, in the same piece, provide independent corroboration of behind-the-scenes negotiations or internal board decisions.

Readers should note that the published letter reflects Clarke’s perspective. Where news reporting is based on a personal statement, it is standard to distinguish the author’s account from independently verified facts. At present, public reporting centres on Clarke’s announcement and the publication of his letter by BBC Sport (published 28 June 2026).

What comes next for Scotland

With Clarke no longer in the job, the Scottish FA will lead the process to appoint a replacement. That could include naming an interim head coach from the existing backroom staff while a full recruitment process is carried out, or opening an immediate search for a permanent successor.

In practical terms, the team’s preparations for upcoming fixtures will continue under interim arrangements determined by the national association. Players and technical staff typically remain in place while the governing body finalises next steps; any formal timetable for an appointment will be announced by the Scottish FA.

Fans should expect official statements from the Scottish FA about interim leadership, selection for imminent matches and the recruitment timeline for a new head coach.

Background and context

Clarke’s spell in charge was notable for a period of steady public engagement by the squad and committed support from the Tartan Army at home and abroad. Coverage so far focuses on Clarke’s personal farewell rather than a detailed chronology of events that led to his departure.

Wherever possible, reporting will distinguish between Clarke’s own account and independently verified developments about the circumstances of his exit. News outlets may follow up with additional reporting if new, corroborated information emerges from the Scottish FA or other official sources.

Key takeaways for fans

• Steve Clarke has written and published a farewell letter to Scotland supporters; BBC Sport published the full letter on 28 June 2026.
• The excerpts above are drawn from Clarke’s note and show his gratitude to the Tartan Army and pride in the squad and staff.
• The Scottish FA will manage the practical next steps, including any interim coaching arrangements and the search for a new permanent head coach.

Source and how to read the full text

This article is based on the letter published by Steve Clarke and on BBC Sport’s publication of that letter. BBC Sport published Clarke’s letter in full on 28 June 2026 (published 2026-06-28T00:52:22.000Z). For the full, unedited text as published by the broadcaster, see the BBC Sport link below.

‘Bye-bye, Scotland!’ – Clarke’s leaving letter to the Tartan Army — BBC Sport (published 28 June 2026)

Attribution: This article summarises and excerpts Steve Clarke’s farewell letter as published by BBC Sport and provides context about confirmed next steps. It does not add unverified claims about internal decision-making.