McGregor protests innocence over v-sign

December 30, 2009

Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor says he would take a lie detector test to prove the infamous v-sign gesture that threatened to end his international career was not aimed at Scotland fans.

McGregor is in line for a recall to the Scotland squad following the appointment of Craig Levein as replacement for sacked boss George Burley.

McGregor and Scotland team-mate Barry Ferguson were told they would not play for Scotland again after being caught on camera making v-sign gestures during the World Cup qualifying win over Iceland in April.

The incident occurred after McGregor and Ferguson were dropped to the bench by Burley following reports they had been drinking for more than eight hours before the match at the team’s hotel.

McGregor is adamant the gestures were not directed at the Tartan Army and he hopes he can be forgiven if Levein does hand him a recall.

“I’m not a bad guy – anyone who knows me will tell you that,” McGregor told the Daily Record. “But that night at Hampden I felt I had been thrown to the wolves if I’m honest.

“The whole Boozegate thing had not been well handled and Fergie and myself felt we were being hammered for something others had been involved in.

“Then we had to sit there with 300 cameras pointing in our faces. And that’s when it happened.

“People think we hatched it between us in the dressing room as some kind of way of sticking our fingers up at the whole country.

“But that’s honestly not the way it was. It happened at the spur of the moment when we were sitting there with all the cameras flashing.

“I can say this with my hand on my heart – the V signs were not meant for the Tartan Army or for all of Scotland.

“It was just a stupid, childish reaction to the situation we were in. If I had felt that way about the fans I would have walked out into the centre circle and stuck two fingers up there.

“What else can I say? I’d take a lie detector test if I could – that’s how strongly I feel about it. I wish I could turn the clock back.”

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Allan McGregor, barry ferguson, craig levein, daily record, dressing room, eight hours, george burley, gestures, Glasgow, hampden, hand on my heart, Iceland, international career, lie detector test, mcgregor, scotland, scotland fans, scotland squad, scotland team, spur of the moment, tartan army, team mate, two fingers, v sign

Scots sack Burley

November 17, 2009

George Burley’s 22-month reign as Scotland manager came to an end Monday when the Scottish Football Association (SFA) terminated his contract with immediate effect.

Burley’s assistants, Terry Butcher and Paul Hegarty, were also released, 48 hours after Scotland succumbed to a 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales.

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

But Saturday’s humiliation in Cardiff proved to be the last straw for SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.

“It is with regret that we announce George Burley?s departure,” Smith said. “We now have four months until our next scheduled match, against Czech Republic, and will therefore utilise the intervening period to ensure we attract the best possible replacement to take Scotland forward.”

Smith said the decision had been taken unanimously by the SFA’s board.

“It should be stressed that the decision was not a direct consequence of Saturday?s unacceptable 3-0 defeat to Wales but, rather, a realisation that the expectations of the supporters, the Scottish FA and George, himself, were not being met.

“I should point out that the Scottish FA stands by its decision to give the national coach our full support despite failure to qualify for the World Cup play-offs. It would have been negligent not to have given George every opportunity to rebuild and revitalise the squad in light of the improved performances in the last two qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland.

“Unfortunately, the adverse results in the two subsequent friendly matches against Japan and Wales provided confirmation that the improvement could not be sustained.”

Burley’s fate was effectively sealed when the ‘Tartan Army’ of travelling fans — who had largely remained loyal to the manager — reacted furiously to an abject display against the Welsh.

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

His supporters will claim 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.

His critics however can argue 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 — whose current contract at Ibrox expires in January — to return to the role.

Dundee United’s Craig Levein is also seen as a potential candidate to take over from Burley before the start of Euro 2012 qualifiers in August or September.

Souness, the former Newcastle, Blackburn and Liverpool manager, said 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)

Tags: alex mcleish, cardiff, chief executive, czech republic, four months, george burley, gordon smith, humiliation, last straw, national coach, paul hegarty, play offs, s board, scottish fa, scottish football association, sfa, tartan army, terry butcher, welsh, World Cup

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.

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)

Tags: alex ferguson, alex mcleish, arsene wenger, craig levein, dundee united, euro 2008, euro 2012, george burley, gordon smith, graeme souness, local media, ogilvie, play offs, poor performance, scottish football association, sfa, smith president, tartan army, vice presidents, walter smith

Tartan Army can roar us to Dutch win, says Burley

September 6, 2009

Scotland boss George Burley believes the Tartan Army can roar his team to victory over mighty Holland on Wednesday and keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Scotland stayed in contention for a play-off place with a 2-0 win over Macedonia on Saturday thanks to second-half goals from Scott Brown and James McFadden.

The Scots head into their final game of Group Nine against the Dutch knowing a win would secure second spot and a chance of a two-legged tie against another European runner-up.

The Netherlands have already secured their place at South Africa 2010 with a 100 per cent record in the group so far.

Burley knows a win against the nation ranked third in the world will be a massive task but hopes the Tartan Army of fans can roar his side to victory at Hampden.

“We are looking to win the game – simple as that,” Burley said.

“We have a belief we can take the three points. We know what a fantastic team Holland are. But we have fifty-odd thousand fans behind us and we are desperate not to let them down.

“So we won’t be pensive about it. We’ll be nice and positive and try and stop them playing and try and win the game.”

But his Macedonian opposite number Mirsad Jonuz didn’t share Burley’s optimism.

“They have no chance at all with such a performance like today, especially the first-half,” Jonuz said. “It is very hard to be lucky twice.”

On Saturday, Brown headed Scotland into the lead to score his first international goal. He took a heavy knock in the first-half and will be a doubt for the game against the Dutch.

But Burley said he was hopeful Brown would make it and defended the Celtic midfielder for his part in the first-half melee caused by the player’s refusal to return the ball to the Macedonians from a drop-ball after one of their players was injured.

“I don’t think it was Scott who was causing the problems. I think it was about six or seven of their players ran over to him and tried to push him,” said Burley.

“He never got involved with anything in the second-half and showed what a good professional he is. I think initially I could see him pointing to the keeper and he wanted to kick it back to give them the ball.

“But the referee wanted a bounce ball and if it is a bounce ball you try and win the ball so I don’t see the problem.”

McFadden scored the second after a mazy run starting in his own half ended with him rounding Jane Nikoloski to score and help ease the pressure on Burley.

However, the Birmingham City star picked up a booking and will sit out the match against the Dutch due to suspension. His manager said his loss would be a massive blow and was annoyed they couldn’t appeal his booking.

“I thought James in the second-half was unbelievable at times,” Burley said.

“I didn’t realise he was booked. I don’t know where his involvement came in. Whether it was a case of mistaken identity I don’t know. But seemingly there is no procedure to appeal a yellow card at all so there is nothing we can do.

“It is a whole squad that is important to you so other players can come in and fill his boots.”

Suspensions and injuries meant Burley recalled veteran David Weir to the starting line-up for Saturday’s game where he partnered Stephen McManus, who was playing his first competitive game since May.

The pair brought much needed stability to the Scottish defence after the disastrous 4-0 defeat by Norway in their previous qualifying match.

With Gary Caldwell available for the game against the Netherlands on Wednesday the manager has a selection headache.

GLASGOW (AFP)