Dan Petrescu is among 20 applicants for Scotland job

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Unirea Urziceni coach Dan Petrescu is one of 20 applicants for the vacant Scotland manager's job.

 

The Romanian former Chelsea defender's CV has been passed to the Scottish FA.

 

But the hunt for the new man will not be limited to the 20 names so far put forward by the applicants themselves or their agents.

 

The SFA board met on Thursday to discuss the process and it is the intention to appoint a new boss by the European Championship draw in February.

 

Following its scheduled monthly board meeting, chief executive Gordon Smith would not speak of individual candidates.

 

However, he said: "The matter was discussed extensively and vigorously.

 

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"We will now initiate that process in the coming weeks.

 

"It remains the Scottish FA's intention to appoint and present a new national coach in time for the Euro 2012 qualification draw on 7 February."

 

The SFA gathering at Hampden was the first opportunity to discuss replacing George Burley, who was sacked last month after a disappointing sequence of results.

 

Dundee United's Craig Levein remains the bookies' favourite to replace Burley, who lasted 22 months in the job.

 

Levein has been reluctant to discuss the vacancy, but others have publicly declared an interest in leading Scotland.

 

Out-of-work pair John Collins, the former Hibernian manager, and Jimmy Calderwood, who left Aberdeen in the summer, have said they would welcome the challenge.

 

Meanwhile, Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo and Petrescu have also said that the post appeals.

 

The 41-year-old Petrescu led the unfancied Unirea to the Romanian title last season and he was thrust into the spotlight in Scotland after his side defeated Rangers at Ibrox in their Champions League group this term.

 

Some have already distanced themselves from the role at Hampden.

 

Rangers manager Walter Smith has ruled out a second stint in charge of the national team and former Ibrox boss Graeme Souness insists he has no desire to return to management at any level.

 

John Hughes has said he already has his dream job at Hibs, while Kilmarnock's Jim Jefferies has pointed out that he has already been twice overlooked by the SFA.

 

Gordon Strachan has hinted that he would have been interested in the national post following his departure from Celtic in the summer, but Burley's sacking did not come until after the former Scotland midfielder was appointed manager of Middlesbrough.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8392436.stm