Burns drops off SFA shortlist
Thursday, 18 Jan 2007 22:30
Smith's departure has set in train a managerial merry-go-round
Scotland assistant coach Tommy Burns has dropped out of the running for the vacant national team manager's position.
The Celtic first-team coach was understood to be on a shortlist of candidates drawn by Scottish football officials, but it appears that his patience has worn thin with the protracted selection process.
Having already served as right-hand man to Berti Vogts and the recently-departed Walter Smith, Burns was believed to be unwilling to entertain the possibility of working under a third boss.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Scottish national squad and have made a lot of good friends in the process," he told the Bhoys' official website.
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone involved with Scotland every success for the future."
The Scottish Football Association's reaction was altogether more generous than the one that greeted Smith's departure for Rangers managerial role.
"Clearly, there was always going to be disruption and change to the national team in the wake of Walter Smith's departure and Tommy's decision is one aspect of that," chief executive David Taylor said.
"Our current priority is the recruitment of a new national team manager, but we are still at an early stage in the recruitment process."
Alex McLeish and Gary McAllister are now believed to be the two main contenders left in the race with Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies an outside bet for the position.
Burns will now concentrate solely on his work at Parkhead, trying to ensure a second successive Scottish Premier League title for Gordon Strachan's men.