GEORGE BURLEY is today the red-hot favourite to become the next manager of Scotland.

Burley was interviewed for the post yesterday following Saints' 1-1 draw at Plymouth on Saturday, becoming the last of the four leading candidates to meet with Scottish Football Association officials.

And a report north of the border today claimed that SFA chief executive Gordon Smith and president George Peat were ready to unveil the Southampton boss by the weekend.

That was enough for the leading bookmakers to make Burley odds on for the job, although a compensation package would have to be agreed quickly with Saints if Smith is to deliver on his promise to have his new manager in place by January 31.

Burley is in contention for the post alongside Motherwell's Mark McGhee, Celtic assistant Tommy Burns and the most high-profile of all the candidates, Graeme Souness.

The former Ipswich Town manager, once named England's Manager of the Year after performing miracles in the Premiership at Portman Road, yesterday re-iterated his position that it had been "a great honour" to be shortlisted for the job.

Seven days ago, he was seen as rank outsider at 8-1 and was keeping his cards close to his chest as to whether he'd even accept the job, admitting only: "There is a lot to consider. I'm very happy at Southampton but, if your country asks to speak to you, it is only right to do so."

Saints chairman Leon Crouch added: "George is an experienced and valued manager and we want to keep him, but taking charge of your country is the greatest honour any manager could have, so we understand his position.

"It would've been very difficult to say no in those circumstances and we'd certainly not have given permission for him to speak to anyone else."

Burley is now quoted at 1-5 to become next manager with McGhee and Souness at 13-2 and Burns the outsider at 8-1.

At the weekend, McGhee was awarded favouritism after it emerged the SFA would have no problem with him continuing as Motherwell boss until the end of the season before taking up the Scotland post full-time.

Then Souness was made odds on favourite as he went on record as saying he still wanted the job despite the relatively small salary of £350,000 a year on offer.

And, last week, Burns was the early front-runner before he seemed to blot his copybook by revealing his reluctance to go through the interviewing process, although he did later meet with the SFA panel.