Alex McLeish admitted a lack of attractive offers in the Premiership prompted a change of heart over the Scotland job but stressed that patriotism took a hold when David Taylor came calling.

The new national coach was unveiled yesterday at Hampden Park, along with a backroom team of Roy Aitken, the former Aston Villa assistant manager, and McLeish's long-time No.2, Andy Watson.

McLeish returned to work after a nine-month hiatus which was partly self-imposed after a "draining" final season in charge of Rangers.

He wanted to test himself in England's top division but rethought his career plans after being consistently overlooked for the top jobs.

He had spurned the advances of Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Coca-Cola Championship in the hope of a more appealing offer yet, despite vacancies at Charlton Athletic, twice, and West Ham United, McLeish's record of seven trophies in 41/2 years at Ibrox was overlooked.

Approaches from the continent, believed to be in France and Netherlands, came too soon after he left Rangers and after seemingly ruling himself out of the Scotland job when Walter Smith returned to Rangers, McLeish found the Scottish FA's offer irresistible.

"You never know until you're asked the question," he explained. "I said a few weeks ago I still had aspirations to get back into club football but they were not exactly queueing up for me. I had a few interesting offers in May, then around November and Christmas, but I needed a break and they were not as attractive as I wanted. I was starting to think will I get back in again?' "I had three opportunities abroad but the timing wasn't right. I needed a break and I am glad I took it. I wasn't ready for any job after Rangers, not even Scotland, and would have found it hard to stay on if they asked me to change my mind. It was draining."

Instead, McLeish escaped the spotlight by travelling to the other end of the world on a family holiday in Australia.

He attended coaching sessions at Lyon and Manchester United but, while Martin O'Neill was appointed Aston Villa manager, McLeish believes his prospects of emulating his former Old Firm rival suffered from a lack of recognition down south.

"They don't pay a helluva lot of attention to achievements up here," he said. "Martin was different because he had the English connection."

McLeish is contracted until the end of the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010. Given the controversy caused by Smith's defection to Rangers, a section of the Tartan Army are uneasy with the appointment of a relative youngster, at 48, who has not hidden his desire to return to club management.

McLeish responded diplomatically to the question but stressed he insisted on a deal until the end of the World Cup campaign to prove his commitment. "When it was first discussed, I didn't want it to be until November because then it would have looked as if I was not committed," he said.

"If I do well it means the previous manager has left a solid platform and means we are decent coaches. I have signed a contract of commitment."

Having already moved to temper expectations with Scotland sitting proudly, if precariously, at the top of Euro 2008 qualification group B, the new incumbent admits he has pored over every permutation with eight games remaining between now and the end of the campaign.

Ultimately he considers third place behind Italy and France would represent a positive step forward and give Scotland the ideal preparation for the next World Cup qualifiers.

He said: "If we manage to achieve something else, like Walter did with the France game, then so much the better. To qualify would easily be one of the greatest achievements of my career but we need to keep our feet on the ground."

Already, he has developed a vested interest in the countdown to the closure of the transfer window. Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon, dropped for the 0-0 draw against Rangers on Saturday, have 48 hours to find new employers having been put up for sale by Hearts. McLeish is hopeful they can find contentment elsewhere rather than risking first-team exile at Tynecastle for the rest of the season.

"Of course, I would like to see things settled for those two guys because they have been mainstays of the national team," said McLeish. "They have a strong mentality and can handle the situation the way it is just now. If they can get fixed up this week, great, if not, then I would like to see them get back into the team after the window closes."

Regardless, he has pledged to be just as considerate as his predecessor to those Scotland squad regulars who encounter a lack of activity at club level.

"I can't afford to cut off my nose to spite my face. The likes of David Weir has been a mainstay, even when he has been out of things at club level, but there is no point in creating hard and fast rules.

"One thing you look for is reliability and we have a squad that the previous manager was able to rely on and I hope to continue that. I do not think I am so enriched I can say to a player he is not playing for his country if he can't get a game for his club."

It is a mantra that could extend to Garry O'Connor. The striker would never have played for Scotland again after failing to report for duty for the trip to Ukraine. It was the third time he had pulled out of an international gathering and he has yet to apologise for his absence. McLeish will contact Gary Mackay, the player's agent, to clarify the situation but the 23-year-old, who is keen to return home from Lokomotiv Moscow, may win a reprieve.

McLeish said: "We can not afford anything that is detrimental to the group harmony."