Martin O'Neill says problems in Scottish football are long-standing

The Celtic manager's comments come amid growing doubts about the future of present national boss Berti Vogts.

"I think it strange that Berti is copping it now for a situation that has been obvious for some time," he said.

"Anybody who is thinking of applying for the Scotland job in the next eight or nine years should go get themselves checked out by about 15 psychiatrists."

And Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson joined the chorus backing Vogts and slammed Scottish expectation levels.

The Old Trafford chief was instrumental in Vogts' appointment, helping Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor sift through the applications to succeed Craig Brown.

He told MUTV: "I always think Scottish education and intelligence is one of the best in the world.

"But I don't think they are thinking right up there because it is plain to me that it is not the Scotland of old.

"So, if you don't have the Scotland of old, how do you expect to get the results of Scotland of old? This is what the expectation is."

Former Scotland international Graeme Souness also had sympathy for Vogts.

"This is the least talented group of players that any Scotland manager has had to work with since football was invented," said the Newcastle United manager.

He is a very fine footballing man Blackburn manager Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes, who has taken over from Souness at Blackburn, led Wales to a 4-0 humiliation of Scotland in February but still gives his backing to Vogts.

"People think international managers cannot see the limitations of their own side," he said.

"I know Berti Vogts very well and he is a very fine footballing man, he knows the limitations he has in his squad, but he is not in a position to do something about it.

"My situation as a club manager now, I can actively address some of the limitations in the squad at Blackburn.

"As an international manager, it's very, very difficult or nigh impossible to do so.

"People just need to step back and understand how difficult being an international manager is."

Hearts head coach Craig Levein has ruled himself out of the running to be Vogts' successor and also pointed to the limited resources available to the German.