ENGLAND legend Terry Butcher today dismissed Sven-Goran Eriksson's chances of landing the Scotland job – and urged the SFA to appoint Billy Stark instead.

SportTimes revealed exclusively yesterday that the former England, Mexico and Ivory Coast boss had applied to take charge of the national team.

But 77-times capped Butcher immediately ruled the 64-year-old Swede out of the running. He declared: "I don't think that will ever happen." Butcher was surprised to discover that the Swede, currently technical director of Tero Sasana in Thailand, had made an ambitious bid to succeed Craig Levein.

But the 77-times capped defender, who spent two years as Scotland assistant boss under George Burley, was dismissive of the Scandinavian's interest.

And the Inverness Caley Thistle manager reckons SFA chiefs should keep faith with the man who was in the dugout against Luxembourg this week – Under-21 supremo Stark.

The former Rangers captain, who led his country to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Italy in 1990, was critical of Eriksson towards the end of his controversial and ultimately disappointing rein as England boss.

"It is up to him (Eriksson) if he wants to apply for the job and it is up to the SFA who they want to appoint. But for me there is only man for the job – Billy Stark."

The Scotland Under-21 coach is, along with Joe Jordan and Gordon Strachan, one of the bookmakers' favourites to take over and Butcher can understand exactly why. He explained: "Billy has two qualities that a lot of international managers who have done well have in abundance – dignity and class."

Meanwhile, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has revealed the process to find a new manager is already under way.

He said: "The Scottish FA Office Bearers met in Luxembourg to discuss the process to appoint a new national coach.

"I can assure the Scotland supporters the board are focused on appointing a national coach who can restore our respectability and status in the Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign and lead us to qualification for the Uefa European Championships in 2016."