Levein in the frame as Burley is sacked
DUNDEE UNITED boss Craig Levein is the early favourite to become the next Scotland boss after George Burley was sacked yesterday after 22 months in charge.
Scottish FA chiefs called an extraordinary meeting after fans turned on Burley following Saturday’s demoralising 3-0 defeat by Wales.
Chief executive Gordon Smith gave Burley a vote of confidence after the Scots missed out on qualification for the World Cup just two months ago, but subsequent defeats to Japan and, more alarmingly Wales, have since made the former Ipswich and Hearts boss’ job untenable. Smith said: “The decision was taken after a meeting with the board of directors and, subsequently, the national coach. The board was in unanimous agreement.
“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.”
Levein, capped 16 times by Scotland in the early 1990s, has been installed as the early 9/4 favourite with bookies to succeed Burley, but SFA chiefs may turn back to Walter Smith, who left the job back in January 2007 to rejoin Rangers.