AND then there was one.

The lone survivor of what was grudgingly referred to by the English as the Scotia Nostre of managers exerting influence in the top echelons of the game in England.

Paul Lambert must feel like an isolated figure as he surveys the once tartan-tinged territory south of Hadrian's Wall.

With the removal of David Moyes from the biggest job of all - and the most onerous task, replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United - the man who is clinging to his position at Aston Villa must sleep just a tad less easily of a night.

The former Celtic captain is acutely aware that, not very long ago, the likes of Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool), Malky Mackay (Cardiff), Alex McLeish (Villa), Stevie Clarke (West Brom), Steve Kean (Blackburn), Owen Coyle (Bolton), Fergie (Manchester United) and Moyes (Everton) were all readily available at the end of a phone, willing to empathise with him over how tough it is to manage at the top level down south.

Now Lambert must look further down the divisions for some kinship. That's where he will find Graham Alexander (Fleetwood), Dougie Freedman (Bolton), Steven Pressley (Coventry), Darren Ferguson (Peterborough), Paul Dickov (Doncaster) and Steve Evans (Rotherham).

Barry Ferguson is the latest to throw his bunnet into this ring of fire (and potentially-fired) as interim boss at Blackpool.

But the big jobs are no longer the domain they once were of Scots. Of course, these things are cyclical, and there is no reason to believe Scots will not rise again to fill key positions in a country where Fergie, Sir Matt Busby and Bill Shankly are still revered as three of the best bosses ever.

Chair of Sport at Edinburgh University, Professor Grant Jarvie, believes the lack of money within the Scottish game is a handicap to reputations being enhanced in the way they once were, opening doors to big clubs in England.

"Not so long ago, the names of Scottish managers always came up when positions at top clubs in the Premiership became available," he said.

"It would be great to have a Scot as a manager of one of those clubs again.

"But not many managers from here can now win European trophies, and that is what owners now look for."

The influx of foreign owners, who do not have a history of recognising the particular qualities which our natives can bring to the job, is another major obstacle. Instead, they have a penchant for appointing coaches from more exotic climes.

Spain appears to be the new Scotland when seeking a manager, with Manuel Pellegrini holding the most lucrative of those posts at Manchester City.

Astonishingly, in only his 303rd day in the job, Pellegrini can now boast he is the tenth longest-serving manager in the Premiership.

The Spanish armada which has sailed into English football waters also includes Roberto Martinez at Everton, Pepe Mel at West Brom, Aitor Karanka at Middlesbrough and Oscar Garcia at Brighton.

The worry is that, with such a high-profile failure as Moyes at United, the Scottish brand could become even less desirable, though Professor Jarvie is in the camp which believes he was not given enough time to turn things around.

He revealed: "I gave Sir Alex his honorary degree. And you have to remember that he said when David was appointed he would need time.

"I think he was slightly harshly treated. Don't forget Sir Alex's poor start when he took the job. He was given time and went on to become one of their greatest managers.

"The tendency now is to get rid of managers quickly if they do not come up with the goods.

"It is a sport, but it is also a business, and United's shares rose by one-and-a-half percent soon after David's sacking was announced."

Certainly, if Lambert can't arrest Villa's slide, there is a real risk Scotland could have no representation within management in the top division.

Even if he can keep them up, owner Randy Lerner's support could be on its last legs as the American multi-millionaire considers if he wants to retain his controlling interest.

It would be the first time in living memory - perhaps ever - there was no Scot earning a crust as a manager in England's top flight.

Unless, of course, Moyes gets back on the horse and rides into another Premiership job soon. Professor Jarvie would not bet against it. He said: "I don't believe David will be remembered as a failure.

"That would be harsh, given what else he has achieved in his career. His reputation will depend on what he does from this point on."