Southampton clear the path for Burley to be named Scotland boss

The former Hearts boss will be formally offered the £400,000-a-year post this afternoon after impressing at an interview last week.

Despite public backing for candidates such as Motherwell's Mark McGhee, Celtic's Tommy Burns and Graeme Souness, 51-year-old Burley has won the battle to manage the nation which capped him 11 times.

Scroll down for more

Sportsmail can reveal that the SFA approached Southampton on Monday afternoon, seeking details of Burley's contract situation and a likely compensation figure.

Around the same time, bookmakers' odds on Burley getting the job were dramatically slashed.

The SFA's four-man interview panel will now formally recommend the former Ayr United, Ipswich, Derby County and Hearts manager to the international board at a Hampden meeting today — with an appointment expected imminently.

Chief executive Gordon Smith and president George Peat, plus vice-presidents Campbell Ogilvie and Alan McRae, are in broad agreement over their preferred candidate's credentials and only an exorbitant compensation demand might scupper agreement now.

That looks unlikely.

Southampton responded favourably to the SFA's request for contract details at the beginning of the week.

After two-and-a-half years in charge, Burley's failure to win promotion to the Premiership has provoked a desire for change in the Saints boardroom.

As a result, it is likely St Mary's chairman Leon Crouch will compromise on the £500,000 compensation due under the terms of Burley's 12-month rolling deal.

A Southampton boardroom source last night told Sportsmail: "If the SFA want George, they now have to put up or shut up.

"We wouldn't be hard to deal with because there is disillusion amongst our supporters with the failure to win promotion.

"However, neither can we be left short should we need to pay for a new manager to come in from another club.

"Our message to the SFA when they called was: 'If you want George, make us an offer.'"

Sportsmail understands that the south-coast club will move to appoint out-of-work Billy Davies, an early candidate for the Scotland post, should Burley depart.

That would thereby negate the need for significant compensation from Hampden.

Burley, born in Cumnock, has vast experience in club management and won 11 caps for Scotland as a defender from 1979 to 1982.

Much of his playing career was spent with Ipswich, where he made over 500 appearances.

He also played for Sunderland, Gillingham, Motherwell and Falkirk.

He began his career as a manager in 1991 with Ayr United, where he combined management and playing duties before departing in 1993.

Burley took up another player-manager role with Colchester in 1994 before moving on to boss Ipswich, Derby, Hearts and Southampton.

He led Ipswich to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League in 2001, securing a UEFA Cup place.

At Hearts, he briefly threatened to make the Edinburgh side serious challengers to the Old Firm but departed after a superb start to the 2005-06 season due to 'irreconcilable differences' with the board.

His spell with Southampton began in December 2005, following Harry Redknapp's resignation.

Fellow candidate McGhee's desire to stay at Motherwell until the end of the season diminished his attractiveness to the SFA, although the Fir Park boss said before last night's Scottish Cup clash with Hearts that he wanted the job on a part-time basis.

Despite declaring himself a live contender, former Rangers boss Souness was always wary and suspected the SFA's motives for allowing his name to creep into the open.

Burns, the SFA's next pick, may yet receive the call should Southampton play hardball, but that looks unlikely.

After a long and protracted saga in search of a successor for Alex McLeish, the SFA finally appear to have their man.