If we have whetted your appetite for more on Steve Clarke, tune in to Sportsound later.

Jonathan Sutherland and guests, including former Scotland players Neil McCann and Michael Stewart, will discuss the appointment of Scotland's new head coach.

St Mirren captain Stephen McGinn will also be on the show, with the Buddies taking on Dundee United in Thursday's Scottish Premiership play-off final first leg.

Tune in on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW/DAB/online from 18:30.

Bye for now.

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So the waiting is over with Kilmarnock and the SFA announcing that Steve Clarke is to be the new national head coach.

The 55-year-old faces his first test with the selection of his squad due soon for the Euro 2020 qualifying double header against Cyprus and Belgium.

It leaves the Premiership club looking for a new manager after the 55-year-old led them into European competition for the first time in 18 years, Sunday's win over Rangers ensuring a third-place finish for the first time since 1966.

What next for Kilmarnock? Clarke's assistant, Alex Dyer, appears to be staying put, but the club insist they have not started the process of finding a successor to their manager.

As for Clarke, the hard work begins now to rebuild Scotland's footballing reputation.

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However, Pat Nevin does think, if anyone can, Steve Clarke can as the new Scotland head coach looks to find players of Premier League quality...

"The steps that you get from a lower league up to a first team and then elite teams in that league and then to elite teams of the elite leagues and then internationals, these are massive jumps that, let's be honest, most in Scotland haven't been able to do for a long time, or not enough have been able to do - and that's why we haven't qualified," he says.

"Stevie has to be able to find some of them. They will be hard to find, but if anyone can, I suspect he might be able to."

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Among all the positive noises, former Scotland and Kilmarnock winger Pat Nevin adds some words of caution.

"Whoever takes over, Scotland might not end up qualifying because there might not be enough good players, but we'll turn on the manager again, which is a completely and utter nonsense," he tells BBC Radio 5live.

"That's the thing Steve Clarke will have to think about most. You can take over that job and it might be an undoable job to get Scotland to a World Cup or European Championships."

As had been predicted Steve Clarke's words to the Kilmarnock fans yesterday were, indeed, his goodbyes, but he has again lauded the Rugby Park club.

"It has truly been an honour and privilege to work for Kilmarnock Football Club and I will always treasure the moments and memories created here," he tells the club website.

"I'm extremely proud of all our achievements during my time in charge and I'm especially pleased that I was able to play a part in putting a smile back on the faces of Killie supporters.

"A manager is nothing without a group of talented players and staff, willing to work hard and listen to instructions, so I'd like to thank them for their support during my time at Rugby Park."

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Former Hull City and Charlton Athletic defender Alex Dyer has been Steve Clarke's assistant at Kilmarnock, but will he be following him to the national set-up?

He was asked about that possibility yesterday and was somewhat evasive, suggesting he was preparing for next season, as you can see below...

There is no mention of Dyer in either the SFA or Kilmarnock statements.

He had short managerial spells with Welling United and Whitehawk before moving to Rugby Park.

Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith is another who thinks Steve Clarke is a "great appointment".

"He knows the game in Scotland and the players here, but he knows the game in England too," the former Kilmarnock forward tells BBC Scotland. "It’s not long ago that he was working down there.

“He’s managed to get the most out of a group of players at Kilmarnock who were not performing and weren’t doing really well when he took over and he’s got them playing in such a way that all these players are looking very, very promising.

"And some of players have come through to international level because of his management. So there’s no doubt about it that he can get the most out of people.

"I think we’ve got a good group of players in Scotland, but if he can get more out of them and get them playing better than they have been of late then he can turn this country and get us back challenging at a high level again.”

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Jordan Jones was parting ways with Steve Clarke whatever happened this summer.

The Northern Ireland winger is leaving Kilmarnock to join Rangers but has kind words for the departed Rugby Park boss.

It was a winning end to Clarke's spell in charge of Kilmarnock, beating Rangers 2-1 on Sunday to seal third place in the Scottish Premiership and a Europa League qualifying berth.

There have been days of speculation, with the signs increasingly pointing towards Steve Clarke's appointment, but the SFA waited until Kilmarnock completed their league season before making it official.

“It was important that we undertook the recruitment process diligently and respectfully, especially given the importance of the final games of the domestic season for Kilmarnock, Steve and his players," SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell explains.

“I would like to thank the Kilmarnock owner, Billy Bowie, and the club in general for their professionalism throughout the recruitment process.”

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Aberdeen's Derek McInnes and Scotland Under-21 coach Scot Gemmill were also in the running to be senior head coach.

But Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell believes they have got the right man for the job.

“Steve’s pedigree as a coach and manager of the highest regard set him apart in a high-calibre group of candidates," he says. "This season’s achievements simply reaffirm the credentials we believe will be of huge benefit to the Scotland national team.

“I am delighted that we now have the country’s deserved manager of the year to lead the Scotland national team and his experience over the past two decades will be integral to rejuvenating our Uefa Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, which resumes next month."

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Craig Brown was the last manager to take Scotland to major finals when he led the team to Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup.

But he doesn't think the present squad needs as much work to change their fortunes as Steve Clarke faced when taking over at Kilmarnock.

"I don't think a transformation is necessary with the Scotland team, but I do think they need a bit of brightness and a slight uplift from the depression surrounding the team," he says.

"And transfer that to the terraces, the Tartan Army are desperate to be supportive again, you can sense that.

"I can tell you he will bring a togetherness not just to the players but to the fans too."

Steve Clarke apologised to Kilmarnock's fans on Sunday for not winning them a trophy in what proved to be his farewell speech to the club.

Former Scotland boss Craig Brown is another who wholeheartedly approves of today's appointment, which he rates as "exceptional".

"When you look at what he’s done, not just on the last two years - everyone focuses on the last two years - but he’s managed to a good level before that south of the border. And he’s done wonderful work at Kilmarnock.

"And I know Steven because I picked him for the Scottish team as a player and he was a conscientious, excellent player and I think he brings the same attributes to team management."

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Ahead of today's announcement, Scotland internationals James Forrest and Stephen O’Donnell had already given their backing for Steve Clarke as national boss.

Speaking at last night’s Scottish football writers’ awards, Celtic winger and player of the year Forrest said: "There would be a real buzz about the boys and everyone would be looking forward to it."

And Kilmarnock defender O’Donnell commented: “He carries himself with an aura but not an ignorance and it's difficult to get that balance. He has a huge amount of respect from the minute he walked in because of what he's done in football."

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