Scots to axe Burley after Wales debacle

November 16, 2009

George Burley will lose his job as manager of Scotland before the end of this week, local media predicted on Monday after it emerged that his bosses are to discuss his future in the wake of a 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) decided against dismissing Burley last month following a review of the national squad’s failure to reach the World Cup qualifying play-offs.

But the manager’s future will be discussed again this week at an emergency meeting of the SFA’s top four officials: chief executive Gordon Smith, president George Peat and vice-presidents Campbell Ogilvie and Alan McRae.

The SFA chiefs had not been due to meet again until December but the talks have been brought forward after Scotland’s ‘Tartan Army’ of travelling fans reacted furiously to a poor performance against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Burley succeeded Alex McLeish as manager of the national team in January 2008. Under his leadership, Scotland have won three out of 14 matches and have scored in only three of their last 12 matches.

His supporters argue that the results simply reflect the limited quality of the players at his disposal.

“You could have Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson managing that group of players, but the outcome wouldn’t be much different,” said Graeme Souness, who had indicated interest in the job when Burley got it but has ruled himself out the running to succeed him.

Critics point out however that essentially the same group of players did significantly better under McLeish and his predecessor, Walter Smith, running France and Italy close in qualifying for Euro 2008.

The SFA could now attempt to persuade Rangers boss Smith to return to the role while Dundee United’s Craig Levein is also seen as a potential candidate to replace Burley before the start of Euro 2012 qualifiers in August or September.

Souness, the former Newcastle, Blackburn and Liverpool manager, said on Monday he was not interested in managing his country.

“I wouldn’t want the job,” Souness said. “It’s not for me at this time, my life is going in a different direction.”

GLASGOW (AFP)

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