World Cup

Craig Burley: 'Coaching Scotland is a tough job'

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 06 November 2012

Craig Burley believes that only those who have a long-term plan to make Scotland a successful side should apply for the role as the first-team coach.

Craig Burley believes that coaching the Scotland national team is "a tough job".

The 41-year-old former Celtic midfielder, who played for his country between 1995 and 2003, claims that only those who want Scotland to progress in international football should apply for the role.

"People are putting their reputations on the line by taking this Scotland job," he is quoted as saying by the BBC. "It's a tough job. For 10 years-plus, this generation of players has not been able to get Scotland anywhere near a major championship.

"I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's pretty difficult. The group didn't help this time. Because of the co-efficient, we were always going to be in a tough group.

"What you're looking for is someone who doesn't want to use this job as a launchpad back into the Premier League. It needs to be done over a long period. Whoever gets the job needs to see it through."

Gordon Strachan, Joe Jordan, Alex McLeish, Walter Smith and Marke Wotte all have been linked to replace Craig Levein, who was sacked on Monday.