Players only want paid for qualifying

HAVING joined Sunderland at the start of this season in a record £9 million transfer which should guarantee him lifelong financial security, Craig Gordon perhaps finds it easier than most to put patriotism ahead of pound signs when it comes to playing for Scotland.

There is little doubt about the sincerity of the former Hearts goalkeeper's sentiments, however, when he reveals that the Scotland squad which gathered for the first time under new manager George Burley this week will serve their country without pay in the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. As they did in the glorious, but, ultimately, unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifying series, Scotland's senior players are ready to agree a deal with the Scottish Football Association which will only see them receive a financial reward if they make it to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Gordon played in all 12 matches of the most recent campaign without remuneration and believes representing Scotland is enough of a return for the squad which gathered at Loch Lomond to begin the Burley era.

"I don't think failure to qualify should be rewarded," said Gordon.

"The boys want to play for Scotland regardless of money. Everyone of them turned up this week for a training get-together, there were no call-offs. That shows the commitment among the players to make a success of this job.

"I can't speak for everyone, but if we do qualify for the finals, that's when we should be rewarded financially. There's no harm in that, that's our aim.

"I don't see a problem with that, we all want to achieve success. But anything less than getting to the finals, then I don't see the point in getting bonuses."

For Gordon, the appointment of Burley as successor to Alex McLeish is a bonus in itself. He has the highest regard for the man he played under briefly, but, memorably, for three months at Hearts at the start of the 2005-06 season.

While Burley was regarded by most as the outsider among the four short-listed nominees for the post – which also included Graeme Souness, Mark McGhee and Tommy Burns – it came as no surprise to Gordon that the SFA's interview panel were so taken by him.

"There were a number of good candidates for this job," he said, "but I knew that George would do well in an interview and they obviously knew what he had done with club teams over the years.

"I worked with George at Hearts for a short space of time and it was a thoroughly enjoyable time. We were flying high and playing exciting football.

"He's a great coach and it's a step up for him as well to this level. From what I've seen, he'll do very well for us. I think he has a bit of everything. He's very good with the players and talked to us one to one. He got the best out of us and knew how to treat players.

"What stuck out for me at Hearts was how well he got on with everyone and made everyone feel important. It's great when you have a coach who has confidence in you. That transfers from player to player.

"It's important to have confidence in a new team and for him to show us that he has what it takes to get us to the next level and a major championships.

"I'm sure he won't try and change too much as it has been relatively successful recently, even if we missed out on the Euro 2008 finals. He'll not be satisfied with that, he'll want to take us into the next level as do the players.

"His introductory speech to us this week was similar to the one he gave to the players at Hearts when he arrived at Tynecastle. We looked at the past campaign and he put up on the board things we did well and others we could improve on. It's up to us to make the difference in the next campaign.

"We said at the start of the season with Hearts when George came in that we wanted to win the league, here we said we want to get to a World Cup. We want to try and win the group, but at least make the play-offs.

"We had a good, open discussion with him this week and all the players had a chance to say how we should move forward. George wants the players to be involved in that way, to have a voice and speak to him. That's a good way of doing things.

"George follows on from the last two managers in that he wants us to keep the ball and pass it. I think we have the confidence to believe we're a good team. Our Hampden record is good, we won a lot of games in the last campaign, but it wasn't quite enough. We will address that, as we fell short and we need to get better."

Gordon, in line to win his 30th cap in next month's friendly against Croatia at Hampden, also expressed his approval for Burley's coaching team of Terry Butcher and Steven Pressley, albeit with some light-hearted reservations.

"Terry's English, but apart from that he's all right I suppose," smiled the 25-year-old. "Seriously, we've had success based on a strong defence and with Terry and 'Elvis' here, I'm sure that will continue and we can work on things to build on it.

"Terry has been around the Scottish game for a while and his nationality isn't an issue for us. If he helps us become successful, there's no problem.

"When we went through a list of positives and negatives at a meeting this week, Scott Brown was quick to come up with the positive that Elvis has now retired from international football!

"I have to say Steven doesn't suit the red coach's T-shirt, but he knows everyone as it's the same squad he was a part of during the last campaign. He'll break himself into the job gradually and chat to the lads individually."

Gordon's first season in the English Premier League sees him involved in a predictable fight against relegation with Sunderland, but he is relishing what he considers a significant step-up in standard from the SPL.

"We've played some of the top teams and lost a couple of goals from half chances," he said. "That's a difference I have noticed, you rarely get a second chance. I knew it would be hard, but it's another challenge to meet.

"If Sunderland do survive, then it will have been a successful season for us. I don't think being in England has changed me a great deal, because the job is still the same, but it is more difficult when you are scrapping for survival near the bottom of the table."