Smith, 61, ruled himself out of the running to replace George Burley and make a dramatic return to the national team last month.

Speaking at the time, the veteran boss said: "I don't feel it would be right to go back and that is the situation. The matter is now closed as far as I am concerned."

However, the Scottish Football Association appear undeterred in their efforts to see Smith reinstalled in the post he quit to return to Rangers back in January 2007.

The SFA board met at Hampden yesterday where they reportedly decided to approach Smith and persuade him to consider a second spell at the Scotland helm.

Press Association Sport understands that phonecall has yet to be made and, so far, there has been no contact between the two parties.

However, Smith appeared to stand by the statement he made in the wake of Burley's sacking when quizzed about the Scotland job today, insisting: "I've got no further comment to make on that aspect at all."

Dundee United boss Craig Levein remains a front-runner for the job, along with Smith, despite the Tannadice club's reluctance to lose their manager.

Dan Petrescu - who masterminded Unirea Urziceni's 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox and could yet lead the Romanian club into the last 16 of the Champions League - has not applied for the vacancy.

However, Press Association Sport understands the former Chelsea star's representatives have made it known he would be interested if approached by the SFA.

Meanwhile, Celtic midfielder Barry Robson has urged the SFA to appoint his former boss Levein as national team manager.

Robson, who worked under Levein at United before his move to Parkhead, believes the search should extend no further than Tannadice.

The Scotland midfielder said: "I hope the SFA do go and get him because he is a top manager.

"I've worked with a few good managers in my time and he is up there with all of them. The job he has done at Dundee United is incredible.

"I've always said that he will go on to become a big manager at a big football club one day. That's something that I've always thought.

"He has an aura about him, he's bright on the game and he's a nice man as well.

"He will look after you if you do the business for him and players appreciate that so it would be great for Scotland if we could get him."