Burley found himself in the firing line after losing his first competitive match with defeat in Macedonia in the qualifying campaign opener on Saturday.

With two draws and a defeat from three friendlies in the build-up, the former Hearts boss already finds himself under pressure.

He suffered another blow yesterday when Lee McCulloch quit international football just hours after reports claimed the Rangers midfielder did not want to be considered for selection while Burley was in charge.

The Scotland boss has also had to cope with rumours other players are unhappy.

But, on the eve of another crucial qualifier in Iceland, assistant Scotland manager Butcher insisted: "I think the players are a bit bemused at what's been happening.

"There has been a feeding frenzy but the players and staff don't have any influence over that.

"George is a great gaffer to work for. He's been so positive.

"I would have been ringing a few people up and saying a few words down but that's me and George isn't like that.

"George deserves a lot of respect and probably hasn't been shown that for what he's done as a manager and for what he is as a person as well.

"He's dignified, he's courteous and there's a lot of steel about him, which not many people have seen at the moment but I'm sure that'll come out eventually.

"He desperately wants to do well and the players have responded to that. We've all got to be positive and, despite what's been going on with Lee McCulloch and all the other things, we are very positive.

"You have to bounce back in the next game and that's what we intend to do."

The timing of McCulloch's decision could be questioned but Butcher insists the rest of the squad will still be fully focused on the clash in Reykjavik.

"Nothing surprises you in football - it is quite a bizarre story," he said.

"The players in particular are saying, 'What's going on here?'. It obviously makes headlines and, while the players read the papers, they're not stupid, they know what's going on.

"It mustn't deflect - and it won't deflect - from going out there with all guns blazing on Wednesday."

However, the former Rangers and England star refused to criticise McCulloch's decision, insisting: "Players make their own choices about international football, but George has never frozen out anyone. He's never said that anyone is finished.

"Graham Alexander is back in the team, as is Davie Weir, so there's no substitute for experience."

Scotland captain Stephen McManus was also reluctant to be drawn into the debate on McCulloch but did question the timing of his actions.

"There must be reasons for Lee's decision," he said.

"All the boys know him very well. He's a terrific lad to have about the squad and a very good player.

"Whatever has happened has happened between the manager and him but that's certainly not an avenue I would go down myself.

"It might have been blown out of proportion - I have no idea and to be perfectly honest I'm not interested in the slightest.

"The timing was the most disappointing thing because if we had won the game on Saturday, would we have heard about it? Of course we wouldn't. It's that simple.

"But when everybody is negative these kind of stories appear willy nilly."