Davies out of race to be next Scotland manager

Published on Tuesday 15 January 2008 09:26

BILLY DAVIES has pulled out of the race to become the next Scotland manager.

The Scottish Football Association stepped up its bid to find the successor to Alex McLeish yesterday by asking Celtic, Motherwell and Southampton for permission to speak to Tommy Burns, Mark McGhee and George Burley respectively.

Graeme Souness and Davies, who are currently not working as managers, were also on the short-list.

However, the former Preston and Derby boss said: "My representative got a call from the SFA to say I was on the short-list, and then he took another call to say they wanted to speak to me about the job.

"We were informed they wanted to get me involved in the process, and it was then that we told them we would not be taking things any further."

Davies' representative, Jim Price, confirmed his client is no longer interested in the post.

He said: "We had been told that Billy Davies was on the SFA short-list for the manager's position – but that's as far as it had gone."

Meanwhile, Southampton boss Burley was remaining tight-lipped today.

Burley, something of a dark horse in a race in which Burns and McGhee are bookies' favourites, was reluctant to discuss the situation. He said: "You would have to contact the club.

"It's all speculation at the moment."

Burley's reticence, however, was in contrast to his more flippant proclamation in December when he said: "About 500 people have been linked with the job.

"If you have a Scottish accent, you've got a chance.

"But any opportunity to manage the national team is something I'd be interested in."

Celtic would not comment on any approach for Burns, who was assistant to Berti Vogts during the German's ill-fated spell as Scotland boss. Motherwell were equally reticent about discussing the possible future of their manager, with owner John Boyle saying he was unaware of any approach from the SFA.

"I don't know anything about it," he said.

McGhee, 50, has impressed on and off the pitch this season.

The former Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Millwall manager has led a youthful Motherwell side in to a top-six position in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League in his short spell with the club.

He also enhanced his growing reputation by the dignified way he handled the recent death of club captain Phil O'Donnell, who died of heart failure during a match against Dundee United more than fortnight ago. But that tragedy has clearly affected McGhee's thoughts about possibly leaving Motherwell to take the Scotland post.

He said on Friday: "I could only do the Scotland job with the absolute consensus of everybody here. I won't be walking out in any way that leaves any resentment."

What is clear is that the SFA's search for the successor to McLeish, who moved to Birmingham City in November, looks to be in its final stages.