DON'T DRAG IT OUT; Burley blasts SFA for 'ridiculous' decision to keep him hanging on.

Byline: MARK GUIDI

GEORGE BURLEY will come out with all guns blazing this week as he fights to save his job as Scotland manager.

The national boss will meet the SFA executive board at Hampden and sources expect him to survive after mounting a defiant defence.

Burley (right) last night gave SFA president George Peat and chief executive Gordon Smith both barrels for leaving his future up in the air after Scotland's exit from the 2010 World Cup.

And he will make bold moves to secure his job - including ditching Steven Pressley and Tommy McLean from his staff.

In an outspoken interview Burley said: "My job is to control the team, unfortunately I can't control the SFA. They're my employers.

We Burley have to work as a team and sometimes we're not working as one in a lot of areas. "That isn't good for us on and off the field. "But I still have a passion for this job.We are heading in the right direction and I will do everything I can to make our country successful. "However, if the SFA decide the job isn't there for me I will accept it and move on. "But it is a little bit ridiculous that it's hanging on at the moment. I'd like to know one way or another today.

"I know I've made mistakes and some changes may need to be made. "But I'll decide what the changes are. Whether it be backroom staff, medical staff, training routines or players the buck will stop with me. "I won't make changes others ask me to make. That's not in my make-up. I'm strong-minded."

When asked directly about making changes to his backroom staff, he said: "That's something I have to address. "Some decisions made may not have been quite right and I have to make sure I get it right for the next campaign and the next game." The next fixture is a friendly away to Japan on October 10. And the chances of Burley being in charge depend on his talks with the SFA board this week.

In effect he is being re-interviewed for the job. Influential Certain members of the SFA hierarchy wanted to sack the Scotland boss after the 4-0 defeat in Norway last month but were talked out of it. A number of players also felt Scotland weren't heading in the right direction but have also changed their tune. Now, after the displays against Macedonia and Holland, MailSport understands he has a 60 per cent chance of surviving. If Burley is dismissed it's understood Dundee United boss Craig Levein has influential support within the corridors of power at Hampden.

However, the bookies are still making former Celtic gaffer Gordon Strachan the favourite to take over if Burley leaves. And Ladbrokes reckon the Scotland boss will be axed before the Euro 2012 campaign. They have Burley at 1/3 to be dismissed with Strachan the 10/11 front runner to take over. Rangers boss Walter Smith has attracted plenty of bets and is down from 8/1 to 6/1. But he's still behind Strachan and Kilmarnock manager. Jim Jefferies (5/2) in the betting. Punters can back Levein at great odds of 10/1.

Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchison expects Burley to be axed and thinks that will lead to a flurry of bets. He said: "There is some sympathy out there for Burley but the stark truth is he failed. "The question the SFA have to ask themselves is whether there is someone else available who will do a better a job."