Nevin, who played alongside Clarke for both Scotland and Chelsea, admits the timing initially caught him off guard.
“I’m surprised Steve Clarke signed a new contract in the first place, but I understand why the SFA wanted him,” Nevin said. “I was just taken aback that he left so quickly.”
Clarke had reportedly intended to leave if Scotland failed to progress from the tournament. The new contract was designed to give his players clarity, but the manager ultimately judged that continuing was no longer the right decision.
That explanation has shifted Nevin’s view from disbelief to acceptance. He expects to meet Clarke soon and discuss the decision in person.
Clarke leaves behind a record that transformed Scotland’s expectations. Under his leadership, the team became regular qualifiers again, reaching three of the past four major tournaments after a long absence.
That achievement explains why the Scottish FA wanted him to stay.
“He guaranteed Scotland getting to major tournaments,” Nevin said.
Yet qualification was only part of the challenge. Scotland failed to progress beyond the group stage in three attempts under Clarke, and the latest disappointment made the manager’s position increasingly difficult to defend. Nevin acknowledged that Scotland faced two of the tournament’s highest-ranked sides, but also accepted the team had not done enough.
The next manager must therefore protect Clarke’s progress while finding a way to turn appearances into knockout-stage football. That will be especially demanding with several senior players approaching the later stages of their international careers.
Whoever takes charge next will inherit a competitive but unfinished project. The immediate storyline will be whether Clarke’s successor can maintain Scotland’s place among Europe’s regular qualifiers - and finally deliver the advancement that remained out of reach.