Foreign Scots boss would be fine - Alan Rough

Published on Saturday 5 December 2009 09:42

FORMER Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough would have no problem with a foreigner succeeding George Burley as national team boss.

The disastrous Berti Vogts reign is still fresh in many supporters' memories and the Scottish Football Association have gone homegrown in each of their three managerial appointments since.

But ex-Hibee Rough, who won 53 caps between 1976-1986, believes the SFA should not use one bad experience with a foreigner as the basis for ruling out an overseas apppointment in future.

Rough said: "I wouldn't have a problem with a foreigner.

"I think Berti Vogts came in at the wrong time, when we had practically no players. He had to start from scratch but it obviously didn't work for him. Having a foreigner in a Scotland tracksuit doesn't bother me at all."

A number of foreign managers have been linked with the job left vacant when Burley was sacked last month.

The most concrete interest has come from former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu, now manager of one of Rangers' Champions League conquerors, Unirea Urziceni.

But the favourites for the job remain Dundee United's Craig Levein and Rangers' Walter Smith, despite the latter's repeated insistence he does not want to return to the job he quit almost three years ago.

The SFA board met at Hampden on Thursday where they reportedly decided to approach Smith and persuade him to consider a second spell at the helm.

Smith appeared to stand by the statement he made in the wake of Burley's sacking when quizzed about Scotland, insisting: "I've got no further comment to make on that aspect at all."