After Saturday's depressing 3-0 defeat by an under-strength Wales side in Cardiff, where the Tartan Army finally lost patience with the national team boss, the Scottish Football Association were under pressure to act.

However, it was originally feared that, with no obvious replacement on the horizon, 'the blazers' might try and brazen it out.

The next international game is not scheduled until March when the Czech Republic visit Hampden for a friendly and on Sunday morning one respected media source had it on good authority that no crisis meetings had been convened.

In keeping with the SFA's rather disjointed leadership, that message changed later in the day when it emerged that, in fact, a meeting at Hampden would take place over the following few days.

But that meeting was brought forward to this morning where the SFA board of directors swung the axe.

The evidence against Burley was simply too strong. The bottom line was that he conjured up just three wins in 14 games with the use of 52 players, some of whom were clearly not international class. The debacle in Cardiff was the fourth away defeat in succession without a goal and with the loss of 12.

In fairness, Burley had to contend with the retirement of Lee McCulloch after the defeat by Macedonia in Skopje at the start of the campaign. It wasn't the biggest blow he could have been dealt but it hinted at underlying problems.

Rangers striker Kris Boyd withdrew his services after being left on the bench in the goalless draw with Norway at Hampden in which Chris Iwelumo missed a sitter which has gone down in Scottish football folklore for all the wrong reasons.

To add to Burley's seemingly endless woes, there was 'Boozegate', genuine injuries, nefarious withdrawals and some baffling refereeing decisions.

There is no disgrace losing to Holland home or away in the qualifiers, nor is it a disaster losing in Oslo to Norway when you are playing with 10 men for an hour.

But failing to come second in the easiest qualifying group you could have hoped for left Burley hanging on by his finger nails.

Losing 3-0 to a poor Wales team after a routine 2-0 defeat in Japan saw him lose his grip.

While the search for a new boss begins, chief executive Gordon Smith will meet the media on Wednesday where he will be asked some searching questions but already he has offered up his first defence.

Reacting to criticism that Burley should have gone after the failed World Cup campaign, Smith said: "I should point out that the Scottish FA stands by its decision to give the national coach our full support despite failure to qualify for the World Cup play-offs.

"It would have been negligent not to have given George every opportunity to rebuild and revitalise the squad in light of the improved performances in the last two qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland."

The media was split over whether Burley should have been given a second chance although public opinion at that time probably came down on his side, but even their patience ran out over the weekend.

There are no surprises among the possible candidates. Craig Levein and Jim Jefferies are vying to be the bookies' favourite while names such as Craig Brown, Gary McAllister, Joe Jordan and Ally McCoist are on a list, the length of which indicates that no one is quite sure who will be next in to the Hampden hot seat.

Spare a thought for Burley's assistant, Paul Hegarty, appointed to the post only at the end of September. He will leave along with Terry Butcher.

It is hard to disagree with those who look at Hegarty's managerial and coaching career with clubs like Aberdeen, Dundee United and Livingston and believe that the former Scotland defender, lovely man that he may be, is simply jinxed.

While many got their wish with the departure of Burley, the problems of Scottish football steadfastly remain. Problems such as the lack of technique and ability are not so easily solved as the new manager will find out soon enough.