CALL ME WHEN YOU GROW UP! BURLEY BLASTS BITTER BOYD: I WANT PLAYERS WHO WILL FIGHT THE CAUSE.

Byline: By IAIN CAMPBELL 

DEFIANT George Burley last night insisted he will not walk away from the Scotland job.

Burley came out fighting in a hastily-arranged briefing at Hampden following Kris Boyd's decision to quit playing for his country while Burley is manager - a decision Burley described as showing disrespect.

While certain factions of the Tartan Army have backed the Rangers striker, Burley insisted he will carry on regardless and wants players who will show the same sort of fighting spirit.

"I'm here for the scrap, for the fight," he said.

"I'm not going to turn my back on my country, I'm going to battle with everything I've got. I'll work as hard as I can with players who are going to give everything they can for their country and we'll get there."

Burley, who accused Boyd of lacking respect for both Scotland and himself, insists that he will handle the considerable criticism which is coming his way and will continue to manage Scotland the way he sees fit even though several of his selection and tactical decisions were questioned after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Norway.

He said: "I'll take it on the chin. I can't change opinions but I'll put forward my own views. I'm not going to change all the opinions of all the Kris Boyd fans.

"I'm not going to change opinions on team selection or making subs.

"What I'll do is do it in the way I think is right. I'll do everything possible."

Burley believes that most of the Tartan Army will remain behind him despite Boyd's decision to walk away.

He added: "I think the Scottish people want players to show character to play for Scotland.

"The way we've treated the players and Kris Boyd has been totally 100 per cent.

"People out there say if someone's not playing regularly for a club for about six months then should he be in the squad?

"That was my decision (to keep him in the squad).

But I want to draw a line under Kris Boyd. Scotland needs to focus.

"I'm going to focus. I'm going to watch Holland, we've got a friendly game coming up against Argentina.

"Hopefully Stephen McManus will be available, Barry Ferguson, maybe Alan Hutton and Kenny Miller, Kris Commons.

"We want to get stronger.

There's a big challenge coming up against Holland so that's what we've got to be focused on."

CAPTION(S):

HURLY BURLEY The Scotland manager makes an impassioned self-defence and (inset) Kris Boyd makes his stance on yesterday's Mirror back page