Source: Team_Talk
Burley rues Strachan departure
The search for a new Parkhead manager is under way after Strachan stepped down 24 hours after the Hoops surrendered their Scottish Premier League title to Old Firm rivals Rangers.
A number of candidates have emerged as potential successors including West Brom manager Tony Mowbray, a former Celtic player, and Owen Coyle who led Burnley into the Premier League.
Mark McGhee, Craig Levein, Mick McCarthy and Davie Moyes have also been touted for the vacant Parkhead post.
Burley, at his former school, Cumnock Academy in Ayrshire, where he was promoting their School of Football, gave his reaction to the story which is dominating Scottish football.
"I don't think it was a surprise but I was saddened by it," he said.
"I know Gordon very well. I played with him at under-21 level and at full international level.
"He is a great professional and he has shown what a fantastic manager he is.
"He came in and raised the bar as far as standards are concerned, he has improved players and he has always been tremendous with me so he is going to be a big miss for Celtic and Scotland."
Strachan's record at Celtic Park was impressive.
But despite winning the three previous SPL championships, a Scottish Cup and two Co-Operative Insurance cups, as well as taking the club in to the last 16 of the Champions League two years running, the former Southampton and Coventry boss's position was left untenable after losing the title to Rangers.
Burley sympathised with the incessant pressure Strachan had operated under in his four years at Parkhead.
"I think it difficult for any manager to survive for four years, no matter where you are," he said. "That's the way football has gone.
"I don't think it's for the better but with the press and expectations, it's getting tougher and tougher.
"I don't think it's right but it does happen and as a manager you sometimes have have to take it on the chin while at other times, you feel that maybe you have had enough.
"But overall, I think everybody will look at Gordon Strachan's role at Celtic over the last few years with admiration. He did a fantastic job there and good luck to him.
"I'm sure he will be back soon. He's very passionate about football, he loves coaching and I'm sure he will do well wherever he goes."
Burley praised Rangers for coming back to win the title on the last day of the season with a convincing 3-0 win at Dundee United.
However, he was reluctant to return to the thorny issue of Ibrox striker Kris Boyd who is still in the international wilderness after stating last October that he would not play for Scotland while Burley is in charge of the national team, after he failed to feature against Norway in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden.
Boyd scored his 31st goal of the season at Tannadice to once again highlight his potency.
However, Burley, looking forward to Scotland's next World Cup qualifier in August against Norway in Oslo, said:
"There has been talk about everything but that situation hasn't changed.
"We are looking forward to Norway and the most important thing is that we look at the fitness of the players.
"It is a big game, we are in second position in the section and Norway have two games coming up against Macedonia and Holland which will be tough."
