Four In Frame For Scotland Job

The four men competing to be appointed as the next Scotland manager are Motherwell boss Mark McGhee, former Scotland assistant and Celtic assistant Tommy Burns, former Rangers, Newcastle and Blackburn manager Graeme Souness, and current Southampton manager George Burley.

BBC Scotland reports that the Scottish Football Association hope to have the new manager in place within the next three weeks.

Alex McLeish resigned the post after the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in order to take over as manager of Birmingham City in late November, having been less than a year in the role.

"We are still on course for a January appointment," said a spokesman for the SFA, the country's governing body.

"We have identified a shortlist and will be looking to speak to people as soon as we can."

Burns, 51, had appeared to be the favourite for the role a year ago when Walter Smith resigned as Scotland boss to become manager of Rangers for the second time.

Burns had been on the Scotland coaching staff under both Smith and Berti Vogts, and was keen to have a crack at the top job in his own right. But he withdrew from the race when the SFA faile to approach him.

Burley, previously manager at Colchester, Ipswich, Derby and Hearts, and now the boss at Southampton, has indicated he would be interested in the job.

Speaking in December, he said: "About 500 people have been linked with the job. If you have a Scottish accent, you've got a chance.

"But any opportunity to manage the national team is something I'd be interested in."

Former Scotland captain Gary McAllister and Everton manager David Moyes quickly ruled themselves out of the race.

However, McAllister backed Souness, saying that the hard-tackling former Scotland midfielder had the experience and the credentials to be a success in international team management.