Chairman David Sheepshanks has backed former Town boss George Burley to be a success as the new manager of Scotland. Burley will be formally confirmed as Scotland's national boss at a press conference later this afternoon.

Sheepshanks told the club site: "We had a very good working relationship when George was here and I'm delighted that it looks as though he will be Scotland's new national team coach.

"He is a very patriotic person and was very proud to have played for his country. Now to be manager as well is a fantastic honour for him.

"He has many skills to bring to the job. He has worked at the top level in England and Scotland, has a good knowledge of European football and has been a club boss for many years.

"I'm sure he has all the credentials to bring success to the Scotland job and everyone at Ipswich wishes him well."

Burley, who has signed a four-and-a-half year contract, is the fourth Town manager to have gone on to become an international boss. Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson left the Blues to take the England job, while Bill McGarry had a spell in charge of Saudi Arabia in the mid-seventies.

Meanwhile, Town are claimed to be one of a number of Championship clubs interested in Brighton holding midfielder Dean Hammond.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of the summer and is stalling on signing a new deal. Chairman Dick Knight says he will sell the 6ft-tall midfielder if the contract isn't signed soon: "Dean Hammond is the club's captain and we want him to stay, which is why we have gone that extra mile to keep him.

"We have been in negotiations with the player and his agent since the summer in an attempt to agree a new contract.

"The deal on the table reflects Dean's importance in the best possible way, but it remains unsigned.

"The situation will be resolved in the next few days, because the club will not be held to ransom - if Dean is unwilling to accept his excellent new deal, the club will reluctantly be forced to make him available for transfer."

Coventry and Plymouth are also reported to be interested in the Hastings-born player.

Elsewhere, Town defender Michael Synnott played the full 90 minutes for York City reserves last night as they defeated Sheffield United 2-1. Synnott is on trial with the Minstermen and manager Colin Walker recently said he would decide whether to sign the Irish U21 international once he had seen him play in yesterday's game.

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