Let's get behind Burley

ALONG with its Roman architecture and searing heat, the Macedonian capital of Skopje has one great note of interest.

It was the birthplace of Mother Teresa, winner of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize and a woman who, following her death in 1997, was granted beatification, the first steps towards canonisation.

Yet in the wake of Saturday's defeat in the Republic, it would have taken much more than the patience of a saint to deal with post-match grilling that George Burley endured.

Already sections of the media are writing off his side, looking to the heavens for a saviour to steal his throne – just one game into his reign.

He gamely defended his players, even if he really knows he needs to work miracles to get Scotland's qualifying campaign back on track.

His job, however, won't be any easier if he has fans with typewriters sniping from the sidelines or encouraging fury on radio phone-in shows.

Burley is not everyone's cup of tea – that much is clear in some of the broadcasting and writing coming from some of the nation's higher-profile sports hacks.

Yet ask yourself who would you rather have. Would you prefer a manager who is prepared to defy the growing campaign to bring Neil Alexander in to replace Craig Gordon, or someone who shows faith with the current incumbent and is rewarded with a gravity-defying performances that spared even more blushes?

Would you prefer a manager who is prepared to take risks, to try things out, and to blood new players – such as Kris Commons, who rewarded him with a fine display in the second half – or someone who sticks to the same ageing relics on the basis that is the way it has always been?

Burley has shown bravery taking a job that neither his predecessors Walter Smith or Alex McLeish wanted when opportunity knocked elsewhere.

At least Burley had the good grace to say he was "proud" to be named Scotland manager.

Remember that, when the Scotland job used to be something managers aspired too, not something that was used only as a stop-gap to win a position more suited to a lifestyle?

I became friends with Burley while chairman at Hearts and he was our all-conquering new manager, so I feel suitably qualified to argue my case when I say he should have credit heaped on him for trying to be bold with a side that was ravaged with call-offs.

The weight of a nation cannot be an easy load to shoulder at the best of times, least of all when trying to follow in the steps of two almost successful managers before you.

Yes, the Scotland side that took the field in the first half against Macedonia failed to impress.

Yet it was only after George Burley's half-time talk that they were a team transformed, and only luck and the failure of the assembled strike force saw them falter in front of goal.

It was a cruel result in the sweltering Skopje heat, and one that I don't think merits relentless criticism.

Instead, it is those same players who have underachieved in the past who should come under close scrutiny.

Say what you like about Burley, but he will stand or fall on a record that will be achieved by doing things his way – which is, of course, a major reason why, despite his fantastic start at Hearts, Vladimir Romanov ditched him.

At that time, the owner didn't want someone who would think, act and do their own thing, or be their own man.

So, Burley paid the price for one man's inability to leave well alone at a time when his team were flying high.

Yet Romanov is not the only interfering owner. Look at Alan Curbishley at West Ham, resigning rather than be overruled by an Icelandic consortium and rich chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

Curbishley wanted to retain players George McCartney and Anton Ferdinand, but both were sold to Sunderland. When he tried to broker replacements, he was told no.

At Newcastle, Kevin Keegan risked a £2 million penalty and walked out, rather than have his footballing vision challenged from above.

Keegan wanted to keep James Milner, but he was sold to Aston Villa.

Keegan appealed to the Board and the club's director of football for a left-back. Instead, a midfielder and a striker were imposed upon him.

So, my point is this: Scotland is lucky to have a manager like George Burley, and he, I am sure, will be grateful to have little destructive interference from above.

The nation risks shooting itself in the foot if it allows the press to take the place of the rich, autocratic owners that have made the life of traditional British managers so hard.

After all, an orchestra can't have three conductors.

So, instead of piling on the pressure ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Iceland, perhaps some support from the headline writers may be more constructive.

Don't you think?