Brown backs Billy to replace Burley

16 November 2009 19:32
Davies took over as manager of Nottingham Forest in January this year after impressing in spells at Motherwell, Preston and Derby.[LNB]Former Scotland boss Brown believes he possesses the skills for the national team job but does not think he would be tempted by the vacancy right now.[LNB]"I worked with Billy Davies who I consider to be absolutely outstanding," he told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"But I don't think there is a chance of Billy Davies wanting to manage Scotland."[LNB]One of the bookies' favourites is Dundee United manager Craig Levein and Brown added: "Craig Levein has done very well since he has come back from Leicester, where he didn't excel.[LNB]"He has done very well at Dundee United, he is a very capable coach and clearly a good manager."[LNB]When asked if he would consider a return to the role, the 69-year-old laughed: "I can't imagine them asking me."[LNB]Burley was sacked on Monday night in the wake of Saturday's demoralising 3-0 defeat to Wales.[LNB]Brown says he was "not surprised but disappointed" by the SFA's decision to part company with the former Hearts and Ipswich boss following a string of disappointing results.[LNB]But he did not feel a lack of respect from the players was an issue, despite high-profile incidents such as the infamous 'Boozegate' affair blighting Burley's tenure.[LNB]Brown said: "I was in the camp on one occasion and I thought the respect was excellent at that time.[LNB]"The captain, Darren Fletcher, has been fulsome in his praise of George and confirmed that the players were behind him.[LNB]"I've not asked the players if they respect him but I don't think there was a lack of respect."[LNB]Former Scotland striker Charlie Nicholas argued the SFA had to shoulder a large proportion of the blame for the failures over the last two years.[LNB]"As much as George probably deserved to go because the last two games have been an absolute embarrassment, I feel for him because he is an honest guy," Nicholas told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"I think he had the right ideas but to lose players like McCulloch, Boyd, McGregor, Ferguson, the way that happened it wasn't always his fault.[LNB]"It's just been an absolute mess from day one; playing in Macedonia in the heat and hardly going there before; the SFA arranged the game against Norway away before we actually had a league game and got stuffed 4-0.[LNB]"George can hold his hands up and say I take some responsibility and it didn't look good in the end but the SFA have looked none too clever in the process either."[LNB]Another former Scotland international, Davie Provan, claimed the national game's problems were rooted in "Third World facilities" for young footballers.[LNB]But he added: "If you look at the Republic of Ireland, who have a similar quality of player to Scotland, then I do believe Scotland should be doing better, and I'm sure that was part of the reason Gordon Smith and the board made that decision today."[LNB]The ex-Celtic winger backed former Rangers boss Graeme Souness and current Ibrox manager Walter Smith as potential successors.[LNB]"Graeme is the type who would walk into that dressing room and put 30,000 volts right throught it," Provan told Sky Sports News.[LNB]"The players would have huge respect for him and he could do the job.[LNB]"I was saddened to hear him rule himself out but if I was Gordon Smith I would still go to Graeme Souness and put a package to him."[LNB]Provan added: "If something could be worked out where Walter Smith can do this job and the Rangers job at the same time, I would certainly be in favour of that.[LNB]"Because you only have to look at the way Walter Smith reorganised the Scotland side after the Berti Vogts era. I think Walter Smith would be a terrific choice."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk