Souness interviewed for Scotland job

Graeme Souness has held talks with the Scottish Football Association and insists he wants to become the next Scotland manager.

Reports earlier in the weekend suggested the former Scotland captain was distancing himself from the vacancy.

He told the Scottish Mail on Sunday however: "I have been interviewed by the SFA. The interview was conducted in a very professional manner and I want the job."

Mark McGhee and Tommy Burns are also believed to have held talks with the football governing body, while George Burley is the other name on the four-man shortlist.

Meanwhile, Billy Davies has revealed why he withdrew from the race to succeed Alex McLeish as national team coach.

The former Derby County manager told the Scottish News of the World: "Scotland appointed an under-21 manager before the national job was filled suggesting to me that the new manager wouldn't have any input at lower levels.

"That's not how I see the job so I respectfully withdrew my name from consideration."

Davies spoke to Republic of Ireland representatives on Thursday and added: "People might say: 'He's not willing to speak to the SFA but he speaks to Ireland'.

"However, the Irish don't know anything about me so I can understand them wanting to speak to me face to face. Gordon Smith and everybody else in Scotland knows me."