Features

Who's next for Scotland

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 21/11/2009
Football betting

Scotland have finally dismissed George Burley as manager following their demoralising and unacceptable 3-0 reversal against Wales on Saturday.

They finished third in their World Cup qualifying group behind runaway winners Netherlands and Norway.

Burley's men lacked fight, heart and passion; attributes so synonymous to the Tartan Army and the Scottish Football Association have decided to take action with the public becoming increasingly disgruntled at the obvious lack of progress.

Despite captain Darren Fletcher's backing for his boss, the damage had already been done.

Now the bigwigs at the SFA must decide who is the right man to take the national team forward ahead of the start of the 2012 European Championship qualifiers in September next year.

As ever, the media are throwing names into the ring and we will look at potential new recruits who could land the difficult job.

John Hughes

The 45-year-old Hibernian boss is seeing his stock rise after guiding the Edinburgh side to a lofty third position in the SPL.

As usual, Celtic and Rangers lead the way, but with his side keeping in touch with the Glasgow giants, it is making people sit up and take note.

Hughes guided his former club Falkirk to the Scottish Cup Final last season against all the odds where they lost 1-0 to Rangers.

Whether or not SFA chiefs take a chance on him is another matter.

Gary McAllister

The former Scotland, Leeds United and Liverpool midfielder is being linked to his beloved nation's hot-seat.

After having managerial spells at Coventry City and more recently Leeds, McAllister may fancy the chance to try and turn around the fortunes of Scotland.

Craig Levein

After starting his managerial career at Cowdenbeath, Levein has since managed Hearts, Leicester City, Raith Rovers and now Dundee United.

In an up-and-down career to date, he has excelled at Cowdenbeath, Hearts, Raith and now United.

His brief spell in England with Leicester proved to be a disaster after he was dismissed with the club in the Championship relegation zone in 2006 but he has since turned the corner.

He is the current sportsbook favourite to land the job but many believe his previous clashes with SFA officials may work against him.

Walter Smith

Former Scotland boss Walter Smith may fancy another crack at the national team with Rangers being in financial dire straits.

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He managed the side between December 2004 and January 2007 and he left the SFA with a bitter taste in their mouth following his move to Rangers under acrimonious circumstances.

Whoever lands the job, they will have a difficult challenge ahead of them to help revive the country who haven't qualified for a major international competition since the 1998 World Cup finals in France.

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