George Burley has admitted he will be under added scrutiny in his future challenge matches as Scotland's next competitive contest is not for another year.

Burley endured an anxious wait to learn he had kept his job as manager following Scotland's third-place finish in their World Cup qualifying section, behind Holland and Norway.

With public opinion divided over whether he should have kept his position despite failing to secure a play-off spot, Burley could find himself under pressure if friendly results do not go well.

Scotland face Japan in Yokohama on October 10 and are due to face the Czech Republic at Hampden in March.

But Smith has cautioned that other factors are also important in determining the success of these matches.

"I think there is always an importance to friendlies," Smith said.

"One is you are trying to get a result, but the other aspect to it is that you're playing players who don`t always play regularly to see whether they have the capability of playing.

"You might actually try out different tactics in a friendly because you have got something in mind for competitive games.

"So it's not always about the result, it's sometimes about the performance and what you learn from it.

"You do want to try to win games, and we go into every match trying to win, so I think there is an importance to friendlies.

"But it's not quite the same as it is with a competitive game when first and foremost you are thinking about the result and hoping the performance comes with it."

Smith aims to add another match to Burley's schedule this year - but his hopes of an Auld Enemy clash were soon dashed.

"There is potential for a game in November," Smith said.

"We don't have an opponent yet because the World Cup hasn't quite been decided even until October in Europe.

"There are eight other groups playing in October so a lot of people won't know whether they have free weeks yet.

"So it's quite difficult at the moment trying to arrange a friendly.

"Some of the ones who had already won their groups have got friendlies arranged.

"England, for example, was one that I did think of right away as soon as our game was off but they are not available, they have a match."

Smith, speaking at the launch of the Active Nation Scottish Cup sponsorship agreement with the Scottish Government, confirmed Gary McAllister was in line for a place on Burley's backroom team.

With Steven Pressley stepping down last week and assistant Terry Butcher ruled out of the Japan trip because of his Inverness commitments, Burley is keen to get the former Scotland skipper in place in the next few weeks.

"George was definitely going to speak to him so it's down to the two guys having their discussion on it," Smith said.

"George has total autonomy on who he brings in as a coach, and if he wants to bring in Gary, and Gary is happy to come in, then we will go forward on that basis."