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Burns severs ties with Scotland Burns severs ties with Scotland
(about 3 hours later)
Tommy Burns has resigned from his position as Scotland assistant manager to concentrate on his first-team coaching role at Celtic. Tommy Burns has resigned from his position as Scotland assistant manager after not yet being approached about being Walter Smith's successor.
He had been considered a front-runner for the vacant national manager's job. It was thought that Burns was on the shortlist drawn up on Monday by the Scottish FA for the vacant national manager's job.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Scottish national squad and have made a lot of good friends in the process," Burns told Celtic's website. But it appears that former Rangers manager Alex McLeish is the only one to have been contacted so far.
And Burns did not wish to be number two to a third successive national boss.
Burns, who had assisted Beri Vogts and then Smith, will now concentrate on his first-team coaching role at Celtic, where he is also head of youth development.
The 50-year-old's only public comment has come via Celtic's website. MY SPORT DEBATE: Your reaction to Burns' departure "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Scottish national squad and have made a lot of good friends in the process," he said.
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone involved with Scotland every success for the future.""I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone involved with Scotland every success for the future."
class="bodl" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A19015733">MY SPORT DEBATE: Your reaction to Burns' departure Burns, who won eight caps as a player for Scotland, underwent treatment for skin cancer last year. Tommy has made a substantial contribution to the success of the Scotland team SFA chief executive David Taylor
Burns, who had assisted Beri Vogts and Walter Smith with Scotland, is also head of youth development at Celtic Park.
The 50-year-old, who won eight caps as a player for Scotland, underwent treatment for skin cancer last year. Tommy has made a substantial contribution to the success of the Scotland team SFA chief executive David Taylor
But he resumed his coaching duties with both Celtic and Scotland after a brief recovery period.But he resumed his coaching duties with both Celtic and Scotland after a brief recovery period.
The Scottish Football Association has praised Tommy Burns for his work with the national team. The SFA has praised Tommy Burns for his work with the national team.
Chief executive David Taylor told the SFA website: "Tommy has made a substantial contribution to the success of the Scotland team as assistant to Walter Smith and Berti Vogts over the past five years.Chief executive David Taylor told the SFA website: "Tommy has made a substantial contribution to the success of the Scotland team as assistant to Walter Smith and Berti Vogts over the past five years.
"He is a popular and respected figure who offered encouragement and stability for the team at a difficult period, as well as an important coaching contribution."He is a popular and respected figure who offered encouragement and stability for the team at a difficult period, as well as an important coaching contribution.
"I would like to thank Tommy for the hard work he has put into the Scotland team since he came on board in 2002."I would like to thank Tommy for the hard work he has put into the Scotland team since he came on board in 2002.
"Clearly, there was always going to be disruption and change to the national team in the wake of Walter Smith's departure and Tommy's decision is one aspect of that."Clearly, there was always going to be disruption and change to the national team in the wake of Walter Smith's departure and Tommy's decision is one aspect of that.
"Our current priority is the recruitment of a new national team manager, but we are still at an early stage in the recruitment process.""Our current priority is the recruitment of a new national team manager, but we are still at an early stage in the recruitment process."
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has also heard nothing from SFA, despite being linked with the vacancy.
But, while he thought that Burns would he been an ideal successor to Smith, he would not rule out taking the job himself.
"There's been no official approach from anyone so I will just treat it as newspaper talk," he said.
"I'm not going to think about what people are saying until it's official.
"I'll let other people do the speculating.
"In my opinion, Tommy would be an ideal candidate for the job.
"He's a great guy with plenty of experience and he will be a loss to the SFA."