George Burley has been confirmed as the new Scotland manager. The 51-year-old signed a contract taking him through to the European Championships in 2012 and his first match will be the friendly against Croatia on March 26.

"To be asked to be manager of my country is a great honour," the former Southampton manager said. "It's something you want to do, given the opportunity. I never thought it would ever happen. When Scotland showed interest there were so many outstanding candidates with huge experience. It's something I'm really looking to. I feel I'm ready for it."

Burley has set his target as taking Scotland to the 2010 World Cup finals. Scotland have not qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, but they came close in their 2008 European Championship campaign under Alex McLeish, when defeat to Italy in November ended their hopes.

"As a Scotsman you've got a vision to do well for your country," Burley said. "This job gives the opportunity to try to do something, to try to get to the World Cup finals, and as a manager you couldn't ask for more than that.

"There are tingles going through me of excitement, thinking about it. The previous managers have done absolutely tremendously. Everyone remembers the last game where it was so close to qualifying. Now the dream is to qualify for the World Cup."

Burley claimed the recent improvement in Scotland's fortunes has instilled a conviction that the team can go one better and take their place at the World Cup in two years' time. "It's not going to be easy but there is belief now," he said. "I think that is another part of the job, the country believing and believing we are going somewhere."

The 51-year-old believes his greatest attribute is his management of players who he has inspired at a number of clubs including Ipswich, Heart of Midlothian and Derby County. "I've got a fair bit of success with clubs, not spending a great deal of money but bringing the best out of players - man-management. And I'll say [to players and managers] - let's go for it, give it our best shot."

John Gorman and Jason Dodd have been put in caretaker charge of Southampton. The Coca-Cola Championship club are beginning the search for a new manager with Billy Davies, Micky Adams and Glenn Hoddle - who managed the club for just over a year in 2000 - all being linked with the role.

Gorman, who was Hoddle's assistant at Southampton, is currently on the scouting staff at St Mary's while Dodd is first-team coach. The pair have been put in charge of Southampton's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Bury and Tuesday's league meeting with Norwich City, as Leon Crouch, the chairman, starts hunting for Burley's successor.

"This is a top job for someone and there are a lot of good candidates out there," Crouch said. "We are disappointed to lose George Burley but we will now sit down and look at all the options and decide how to move forward."