www.football-live.co.nr

Tommy Burns already has coaching experience with the Scotland set-up

The Scottish Football Association remains confident it will have a new national manager in place by the end of the month.

A list of candidates has been drawn up but the SFA have refused to identify the names in the frame.

"We are still on course for a January appointment," said a spokesman for the governing body.

"We have identified a shortlist and will be looking to speak to people as soon as we can."

After less than a year in the post, Alex McLeish left Scotland to take over at Birmingham in late November.

Out-of-work managers Billy Davies, Graeme Souness and John Collins have been linked with the job.

Motherwell's Mark McGhee and Dundee United's Craig Levein are strong contenders, while Celtic coach Tommy Burns has emerged as a front-runner.

Burns, 51, looked to be favourite for the role in January last year when Walter Smith resigned as Scotland boss to return to Rangers.

He had been on the Scotland staff under both Smith and Berti Vogts, and was keen to take the top job in his own right, but withdrew from the race when the SFA made no contact with him.