The Scottish FA wants to hear George Burley’s plans for the development of the national team before his future as manager is decided.

Burley, who wants to stay on, will meet his employers next week having failed to reach the World Cup play-offs.

“I feel that this a time for measured and considered reflection,” said SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.

“I always insisted that we would review matters once we knew whether we had qualified or not.”

Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands meant Scotland finished third in Group Nine, with just 10 points from eight games.

“Like every Scottish football fan, I am terribly disappointed that we have not made it to the World Cup,” said Smith.

“We so desperately wanted to be there and it just hasn’t worked out for us. The fans in this campaign have been brilliant and it is a shame for them – and for football – that they won’t now get the chance to go with their team to South Africa.

“However, the table doesn’t lie and we didn’t get enough points to make it to the play-offs.

“That being said, there are a lot of positives to be taken from the way the team played in the last couple of games. Hopefully, this will have an effect on those players who will be representing us in forthcoming campaigns.

“As for the future, there will be discussions with George Burley next week to review the way the campaign has gone.

“Our next competitive match is in September 2010, so there is no need to make any statement regarding George Burley’s future until we have had a discussion with him on how he regards the events of the last year and what his plans are, going forward, for the development of the Scottish team.

“Everyone wants to see us qualify for major championships. We have a year to go before we set out on the road to Poland and Ukraine. We will do everything we can to make sure that campaign is a successful one.”

Burley has overseen just 12 games for Scotland and despite widespread media criticism remains keen to stay at the helm.

“I am manager of Scotland and proud of it,” he said after Wednesday’s Hampden loss. “I want to continue as manager of Scotland, of course I do.

“Everybody makes mistakes, but you saw passion, commitment and quality there and that’s something to build on.

“I do my job to the best of my ability, I have been national manager for a year and a half, that’s not long and I’m looking forward to more games to come.”

Striker Kenny Miller, who missed a couple of chances to score against the Dutch, admitted that Scotland have had a poor campaign but insisted that the display against the Dutch proved that Burley had the players’ support.

“At the end of the day, he has not done enough, same as us players – we have not done enough because we have not qualified for that second spot for the play-offs,” said Rangers striker Miller.

“But, in terms of the manager having the backing of the players, there is no doubt when you see that level of performance.

“I thought we played very, very well, all that was lacking was a goal.

“I’ve hit the bar, I feel like I’m putting one into the empty net and the keeper has got up and saved it. The second half, I’ve had chances and I thought we played very well.

“But we can’t keep relying on these last games all the time to perform. The damage was done two or three games before.

“Unfortunately, we never got to that level against Macedonia away and Norway in both games. You can’t just lift yourself to play the good teams.”

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher thought it was the players and not the manager who should take the blame.

“We did not do the manager justice in this campaign,” said the Manchester United midfielder.

“He has taken loads of criticism. Even before a ball was kicked, there was criticism.

“He has had a long, tough campaign, but he has gained a lot of respect from the lads and has not let if affect him.

“He has been been bright, he has been vibrant, he has taken the criticism and shielded the lads.

“And you have seen, especially in the last two games, the boys have been desperate to do well for him.

“But that needs to be from the start and hopefully, under George, we can start the Euros well and give ourselves a good shot at qualifying.”

– BBC