Burns takes Scotland job

Tommy Burns wants to continue his work at Celtic

Tommy Burns has been appointed assistant to Scotland manager Berti Vogts.

Contractual details were completed on Wednesday for Burns to combine his national role with his job as director of youth development at Celtic.

It marked the end of a satisfying day's work for Vogts, who had earlier persuaded Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert to come out of international retirement.

Successful talks earlier in the week between the Scottish Football Association and his club had paved the way for Burns to accompany Vogts to France for the friendly with the world champions on 27 March.

Berti Vogts wanted to team up with Burns

A delighted Vogts said: "Tommy was always at the top of my list of candidates for this position.

"I wanted someone with international experience as a player and coach who knows Scottish football inside-out."

Burns holds a Uefa A Licence and has previously assisted with the Scotland B and under-21 teams.

He said: "I am very excited and honoured to be asked and I am looking forward to helping Berti achieve all his ambitions for Scotland.

"My role is essentially to make his job easier and I will be there on a match-by-match basis to help the players as best I can.

"Together, I am sure we will give Scotland a team to be proud of.

"I should add that it was important to me, in reaching agreement with the SFA, that my role with Celtic in youth development would not suffer.

"The arrangements we arrived at will allow benefits on both sides."

Burns was keen to join Vogts at Hampden

Scotland's first squad under the Vogts-Burns era will be announced on Monday.

The SFA last week approached Celtic for permission to talk to Burns.

He received the backing of manager Martin O'Neill and chief executive Ian McLeod for his dual role as long is it did not compromise plans for their youth system.

Burns had recently turned down the opportunity to return to Kilmarnock as team manager and earlier in the season also rejected an offer from St Johnstone.

He said last week that he felt he owed it to Celtic to follow through with his plans to revamp their youth structure before returning to club management.

Burns has previously managed Celtic and Reading, as well as Kilmarnock.