Darren Fletcher has issued an impassioned defence of George Burley after his troubled start to World Cup qualification was compounded by claims Lee McCulloch has opted not to play for the Scotland manager again.
McCulloch, the Rangers and former Wigan midfielder, is believed to have announced his premature retirement from international football in a phone call to a Scottish FA official last Thursday. The information was withheld from Burley on the basis that the injured McCulloch's decision was an unnecessary distraction from the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Iceland, yet became precisely that when it entered the public domain yesterday.
The Scotland manager has not spoken to McCulloch, who withdrew from Burley's opening two squads through injury and is currently sidelined, or confirmed that the midfielder's international career is over. Talk of disillusionment in the ranks, however, is an added headache for a manager in desperate need of victory in Reykjavik tomorrow night but who, amid widespread criticism for Scotland's defeat in Macedonia on Saturday, has received staunch backing from senior players who are available. "That's a total misrepresentation and I'm really disheartened to hear that," said Fletcher, when asked if McCulloch's stance did reflect the mood in the Scotland squad.
"If players in this camp are going behind the backs of other players and the manager and saying stuff like that, then that's wrong. If they've got problems they should be up front about it. Obviously it's come from somewhere, but it doesn't ring true to me or the rest of the squad.
"George has really got our backing in this campaign. You can see the effort he's putting in. He's trying to take us to the next level. He's trying to make us a more attacking side. And that's not going to happen overnight."
The Manchester United midfielder has been a vocal supporter of Burley's ideas since he replaced Alex McLeish in January. But it was the knowledge and character of a manager whose public appearances have also invited criticism, as much as his tactics, that shaped Fletcher's defence yesterday. He added: "If George is nervous (before the media) then I've not seen that at all. It does not come across at all to the players. George is passionate, enthusiastic and good to play for. He wants you to go and express yourself. He does in-depth analysis on teams. His knowledge is very good and the same will be in the case in Iceland. His preparation is first class and training is bright."
After just one competitive game, but one competitive defeat and four international fixtures without a win in total, Burley was forced to consider whether his job would be on the line should Scotland stumble again tomorrow. His response was to request the patience and objectivity that a difficult World Cup qualifying campaign rarely allows.
"When I took the job people were saying 'support the new manager, give him everything' and let's get a bit of continuity," said the Scotland manager. "But I know that things change very quickly in football and the only way I can change things is by getting results. It's a learning curve and I'm certainly not downbeat. I've had one World Cup game and I wasn't disappointed with the attitude and commitment the players showed. I can't influence what people say, but football has changed. It's a pressure job."
As for McCulloch, Burley commented: "I'm surprised. I don't know what the problem is, but it would be nice to know." The Scotland manager has called up Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher from the Under-21s for the Iceland trip, with Kenny Miller and Graham Alexander sitting out training yesterday with hamstring and thigh problems respectively.