Craig, who earned 46 caps for his country between 1995 and 2003, also claimed some of the squad were not good enough but was not surprised his uncle was given the chop last night.

He told talkSPORT: "I'm not shocked at all. Wales was a disastrous result.

"It's not as if we were playing England or Brazil or France, it was Wales and it was unacceptable from the manager's and players' point of view.

"I don't think what he wanted to do got across to some players and also I think some of them are too thick to take it on board and not good enough to take it on board anyway to be perfectly honest with you.

"But he can look at most of the players in the eye and ask if they did a good job for him and I don't think there are many, if any, who can say, 'Yes, I did'.

"So he hasn't been able to get the players to perform for him, he hasn't been able to get them to understand what he wants the right formation and right results and, at the end of the day, that's all that matters."

A total of 52 players featured for Scotland while Burley was manager.

The search for Burley's successor began in earnest today, with Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith determined to find "the best possible replacement".

Speculation is already rife over who will fill the shoes of a man who claimed only three wins in 14 attempts before the axe finally fell less than two years into his troubled tenure.

Dundee United manager Craig Levein has been installed as the early favourite by the bookmakers, with Kilmarnock's Jim Jefferies also in the frame.

United chairman Stephen Thompson is desperate to keep Levein, telling the Scottish Sun: "If the SFA do ask for permission to speak to him, I could refuse, because he's got a contract here.

"But that will depend on the man himself, although all that would be between Craig and I.

"Would I consider him doing both jobs? I'd have to think about that, but I don't think Scotland have to appoint a manager overnight."

Jefferies last night admitted he was "flattered" to be linked with the vacancy but refused to divulge whether he was interested in succeeding Burley.

Jefferies' captain at Rugby Park, Kevin Kyle, said: "One thing for sure is, if he did get the job, the Scotland players would know about it because I've witnessed his rants every day."

Meanwhile, Walter Smith's uncertain future at Rangers - his contract expires in January - means a dramatic return to the international fold cannot be ruled out either, despite an acrimonious departure when he quit to go back to Ibrox in January 2007.

Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee, who lost out to Burley 22 months ago, has appeared to rule himself out of the running this time around.

Speaking shortly before Burley's departure was confirmed, he told Red TV: "I certainly won't be applying or doing anything in any other shape or form about the Scotland job."

However, his predecessor in the Pittodrie hotseat, Jimmy Calderwood, has expressed an interest in the role.

He told the Press and Journal: "Any Scotsman would be interested and I'm no different. We are all Scottish supporters and the job would be the proudest one you could ever take on."

Scotland's next match is the visit of the Czech Republic at Hampden on March 3, a timeframe the SFA are confident will allow them to recruit the right man for the job ahead of qualifying for the European Championship.

John Collins today said he would be interested in the job.

The former Hibernian boss, who starred for his country at the 1998 World Cup and had a spell in charge of Belgian side Charleroi until earlier this year, told BBC Scotland: "I'd be interested in managing the national team. But it's not for me to put my name forward, it's for the SFA to draw up their list.

"But let's make no mistake about it, it's a very tough job."

Graeme Souness ruled himself out of the running on Sunday night and Collins added: "As Graeme Souness said the other day, no-one is going to come in with a magic wand and turn us into a fantastic football team.

"There is a lot of work to be done and it will be one stage at a time. The role of any manager in the world is to take a group of players and make them better, make them perform at their peak."

Collins' former Scotland team-mate Kevin Gallacher told Sky Sports News: "It would be well worth putting your money on him.

"He's got a great philosophy. He had a great time at Hibs."

Gallacher also believes Gary McAllister is another prime candidate, saying: "Possibly, with no money in the SFA, it has to be somebody who's out of work.

"Gary McAllister's there, a young, up-and-coming manager and a great coach.

"So, why not go for someone like Gary?"