English warrior ready to fight for Scots cause

Butcher, out of work since being sacked by Brentford in December, has spoken with Burley this week and could be appointed his part-time assistant as early as Monday.

It would mark a brave and unprecedented step for not just Butcher, but also Burley. Even in an age when a German has managed Scotland and an Italian seeks to revitalise England the recruitment of an English emblem might be regarded as extreme by some Scottish foot-soldiers. Never mind that this emblem is a motif for courage – and success. Butcher led England to within a skied penalty of the World Cup final in 1990. His 77 caps for England leaves him 14th in the all-time list. The image of a bandaged Butcher staring into the camera with blood running in torrents from a head wound remains an iconic one. The photograph, taken in Stockholm in 1989 after England had secured World Cup qualification with a 0-0 draw with Sweden, said a thousand words about his passion for the cause. It is clearly something which Burley not only wishes to mine but believes can be transferred to Scotland. Butcher did not bat down the suggestion he could soon be seen in a Scotland tracksuit at Hampden. Burley's first match in charge is at home in March against Croatia – the side who brought Butcher's beloved England to their knees in November.

Also in-line to be called into Burley's backroom staff is Malcolm Webster, another Englishman. Webster, who played for Fulham, Southend and Cambridge United, is currently goalkeeper coach at Souhthampton. He worked with Burley at Colchester United, Ipswich and Hearts. But it is Butcher whose presence in the Scotland camp would raise most eyebrows, something attributed to his long and distinguished career in an England international shirt and his own public pronouncements about his continued devotion to the three lions.

In a newspaper article in 2002 Butcher recalled being asked by his father to give the Scots a cheer at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. "I couldn't do it then, and nothing has changed since those days, even though I have spent a large part of my adult life in Scotland," he said, and added: "If Scotland had qualified for this year's World Cup and England hadn't, there is no way I would support the Scots. I would have gone and hidden in a cave if that happened."

Now, however, Butcher could be asked to change the habit of a lifetime and cheer on the Scotland international football team. It is something in which he has already had some practice. His son, Edward, once featured for the Caledonia Under-18 rugby side when at school at Dollar Academy.

"I have spoken to George this week and we had a good chat," said Butcher. "He is an ex-colleague of mine from Ipswich and a good friend. He told me his plans for Scotland and I was very impressed. You could see his passion for the country at his press conference. I thought he did well."

When asked about his own prospects, he sounded far from appalled at the idea of helping Scotland.

"We will have to wait and see what happens," he said. "I haven't got a job and I will consider anything. Although I have only ever coached at club level, the international game is something that I know very well and there is no greater honour than playing for your country.

"This is an exciting time for Scotland," he continued. "In the last couple of years, under Walter Smith and Alex McLeish, they have enjoyed a great resurgence – in stark contrast to England."

If the last comment was meant as a sop to Scotland, it wasn't required. Like Kevin Keegan, another English icon, Butcher chose to make his home in Scotland. His initial move north of the Border was inspired by Graeme Souness, one of three candidates left disappointed by confirmation of Burley's appointment on Thursday. It never seemed likely that Souness would opt to bring Butcher into the Scotland set-up – relationships between the pair became strained after the defender left Rangers in 1990, with Souness accusing hum of refusing to play in a Skol Cup final against Celtic – the summons from Burley represents an understandable and sensible call to the past.

Their relationship pre-dates Butcher's Rangers days, and began when the pair played in the celebrated Ipswich side of the late Seventies and early Eighties. Back them it would have seemed crazy to imagine Butcher being asked to inform Burley about Scottish football. But this is one service the former Motherwell manager can provide. Burley, save for a brief period with Hearts in 2005, has not operated in the Scottish leagues since his time with Ayr United, Falkirk and Motherwell in the early Nineties.

But it is not only here where Butcher can offer assistance. Burley's stated intention is to qualify for the World Cup finals in 2010, and Butcher, a veteran of three tournaments when a player, possesses the know-how.

Even the anticipation of Burley linking up again with Butcher, his old Ipswich team-mate, has led to some predictable howls of disapproval. But those discontented by the reports appear to be a minority. Indeed, it is an irony that someone whose blood-splattered shirt is identified as summing up John Bull spirit is presently regarded more kindly north of the Border than south. This is connected to what must now be interpreted as a series of unfortunate experiences in management in England, where Butcher's spells with Coventry City, Sunderland and, most recently, Brentford have all ended prematurely.

In Scotland, however, his stock remains high after a successful period in charge at Motherwell. He took over the reins from Eric Black in 2002 when the club went into administration and led Motherwell to a CIS Cup final. In the league he steered the side away from relegation in his first season and helped bring through talents such as James McFadden and Stephen Pearson, players who have greatly benefitted Scotland.

"He took a gamble going up there," said his former Ipswich manager Bobby Robson, with regard to his transfer from Portman Road to Rangers. The gamble paid off, and in an era when English clubs were banned from Europe following the Heysel disaster Butcher was able to continue playing in European competition. Butcher's respect for the Scottish game, even when he was a player, always seemed genuine. His irritation with those who rubbished it was also evident.

"People down South used to laugh at Scottish football and still do to a certain extent," he said in 1989. "But you very rarely see a Scottish club side lose to an English one when it matters. From my own experience I can recall being with Ipswich when Aberdeen beat us."

Now this long-time Scottish cheer-leader could soon have a more hands-on part to play.

Working with the enemy

JOHN GORMAN

The Scot began his managerial career in succession to Glenn Hoddle at Swindon Town in 1993. But, after just a year at the County Ground, he left the club following their demotion from the Premier League. He soon linked up with Hoddle again when the former Tottenham midfielder took over from Terry Venables as England manager in 1996 and guided the country to the 1998 World Cup finals before Hoddle's ill-advised comments in a newspaper interview. Gorman went on to manage in his own right at Wycombe and Northampton after short caretaker stints with West Brom and Gillingham. Ironically, Gorman is currently in caretaker charge of Southampton alongside Jason Dodd following George Burley's return to Scotland.

ANDY ROBINSON

The Edinburgh head coach was a surprise choice by the Scottish Rugby Union to succeed Lyn Howells in the post-Carruthers era last summer. Robinson had made a handful of appearances for England as a player, but really came to prominence as assistant to Sir Clive Woodward in the Rugby World Cup triumph in Australia in 2003. Robinson followed Woodward into the England hotseat, but could not replicate anywhere near the same success. However, he has restored the fortunes of Edinburgh t
his season as they aim to overtake Glasgow Warriors as the top professional side north of the Border, with a knock-on effect expected for the national team and Scotland head coach Frank Hadden.

ALAN HODGKINSON

Former England international Alan Hodgkinson became his country of birth's first specialised goalkeeping coach after a playing career which included a first cap earned against Scotland in 1957. Hodgkinson played over 600 games for Sheffield United before recognising the need for a goalkeeper-specific coach and advisor to clubs. Over the course of his coaching career, he also worked Rangers, Manchester City, Everton and England. Hodgkinson was working with Manchester United in the 1980s when he recommended Peter Schmeichel to Sir Alex Ferguson. With Scotland, he came to prominence after Jim Leighton lost his own job with the national team for criticising Hodgkinson in a book.

Taken from the Scotsman