TOMMY DOCHERTY wants the Tartan Army to quit sniping at Terry Butcher and applaud his arrival as Scotland coach. Docherty reckons new boss George Burley's decision to hire his former Ipswich teammate is a masterstroke.

TOMMY DOCHERTY wants the Tartan Army to quit sniping at Terry Butcher and applaud his arrival as Scotland coach.

Docherty reckons new boss George Burley's decision to hire his former Ipswich teammate is a masterstroke.

The ex-Manchester United manager is convinced 77-times capped England hero Butcher is a born winner who can stoke passions in the Scots dressing room in the campaign to reach the 2010 World Cup finals.

However, the 79-year-old was stunned at the resentment Butcher's appointment has caused.

Docherty, capped 25 by Scotland, said: "Terry's appointment is a good one for Scotland - and possibly a great one.

"I have met him only a few times but I do know he is a born winner.

Whether he was in charge of Pakistan or Peru, Terry would want to win - even if it was against England at Wembley.

"That's the way he is by instinct and he's a great character so I'm not one to go along with all this carping on about having an all-Scottish management team.

"I felt the top man should be a Scot because there were so many good candidates interested this time. But as soon as I saw Terry's name being linked as assistant to Burley I thought, 'Here we go'.

"I know what we Scots are like about such things, but we've got to be sensible.

"My mother, God rest her, was bad enough when I signed for Preston as a player. I came home for a visit and she asked, 'How do you like it living in England?' "I said it was smashing - lovely folk - and she just said, 'Well, I don't like them'. It was in her bones.

"But I like to think we can rise above all that and welcome Terry as he should be welcomed.

"Terry strikes me as a great number two and George obviously sees something in him too."

Docherty is enthusiastic about Burley's appointment as Scotland boss.

He said: "I'm pleased - George is an excellent choice. He was brought up the right way by Bobby Robson at Ipswich - a great club.”