Chris Lakey Canaries boss Paul Lambert looks to have ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Scotland managerial post after George Burley was given his marching orders.

Chris Lakey

Canaries boss Paul Lambert looks to have ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Scotland managerial post after George Burley was given his marching orders.

Burley was sacked by the Scottish Football Association after a dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Wales on Saturday took his record to just three wins in 14 matches.

The bookies were already taking odds on who would succeed the former Ipswich manager even before the announcement was made, with Craig Levein and Walter Smith the favourites, and Lambert - who won 40 caps for Scotland -an outside bet, with two bookmaking companies rating him a 28-1 shot.

Burley had been given a vote of confidence in the wake of his failure to steer the Scots to a play-off place for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa - but two months later and the SFA had had enough.

Reports were that they would meet later this week - instead they acted quickly and ended Burley's 22-month reign.

However, Lambert - speaking in Glasgow on Sunday - suggested he believed Burley was being harshly treated.

“If you're going to have another meeting when you've just had one and gave him your backing then it seems a bit strange,” said the 40-year-old.

“But that's the powers-that-be that run the Football Association.

“You've just backed the guy a few weeks ago and all of a sudden you're having another one after one defeat in a friendly?”

Scotland fans turned on Burley after Saturday's defeat.

“You need the fans on your side because they come out,” said Lambert. “The most important people in any football game is the players and fans - and it always will be that way.”

Lambert's position will delight Canaries fans, who have seen him drag their team from the depths of despair after the opening day home thrashing by Colchester up to fifth in League One.

City have lost just twice since he took over from Bryan Gunn in August, they've won their lass five league and cup games and bookmakers have them second favourites behind Leeds to claim the title next May.

The Canaries are also in the southern area semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, where they face former Premier League rivals Southampton.

Lambert's playing career was recognised on Sunday when he was inducted into Scottish football's Hall of Fame.

The former Celtic midfielder played in the 1998 World Cup a year after winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund - becoming the first British player to win the European Cup with a non-UK team, and the first British player to win the Champions League since its inception.

Lambert began his career at St Mirren, making more than 200 appearances before moving on to Motherwell, for whom he played more than 100 games. He spent a year in Germany before a �2m move to Celtic, where he played almost 200 games.

Lambert said he was delighted to be among such luminaries as Mo Johnston, Denis Law and Jock Stein.

“You look at some of the names that are there, it's a terrific honour to get an accolade,” he said.

Nominations are made by football fans around the world and the final list is chosen by football and media experts.

“It's terrific to be recognised in your own country and that is one of the big things for myself,” he added.

“I was really fortunate to play in a World Cup. If you're not going to win the World Cup, you make sure you play Brazil in the opening game, so that was a terrific honour.”