London: Scotland fired manager George Burley on Monday after a run of poor results culminating in a 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales at the weekend.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) said in a statement that Burley, who failed to lead the side to next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa, would leave with immediate affect along with assistants Terry Butcher and Paul Hegarty.
“It is with regret that we announce George Burley’s departure,” said SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.
“We now have four months until our next scheduled match, against Czech Republic, and will therefore utilise the intervening period to ensure we attract the best possible replacement to take Scotland forward.”
Burley, the 53-year-old former Ipswich Town and Derby County manager, had been in charge of Scotland since January 2008.
“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,” said Smith.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 10:07