George Burley sacked by Scotland following defeat to Wales

• Scotland had won just three of 14 matches under Burley
• Manager was heckled by fans throughout defeat to Wales

* guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 November 2009 17.37 GMT
* Article history

George Burley looks on during Scotland's humbling by Wales George Burley looks on during Scotland's humbling by Wales. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

George Burley has been sacked as Scotland manager in the wake of Saturday's 3-0 humbling by Wales. A hastily arranged meeting of the Scottish Football Association's board took the decision this afternoon, just two months after they handed the manager a stay of execution following the national side's failure to secure a play-off place in qualifying for next year's World Cup.

Scotland have won just three of 14 matches under Burley, but to go down so meekly against a young Welsh team missing several first-choice players - among them the captain Craig Bellamy - was seen as the final straw. The SFA's board members will also have taken note of Burley's unpopularity among Scotland's fans, who heckled him throughout the defeat in Cardiff.

With no games scheduled until March, when the Czech Republic visit Hampden Park, and qualifying for the 2012 European Championship still 10 months away, the board have given themselves plenty of time to find a replacement.

Among the potential candidates to replace Burley may be Walter Smith, who previously managed the national side between 2004 and 2007 and whose contract at Rangers expires in January.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer