The Andy Lockhead Column

FEW Welsh players will have been happy to wave Mark Hughes goodbye this week.

But I suspect that tinged with the sadness, Burnley goalkeeper Danny Coyne cannot wait for Hughes' successor to be appointed.

Coyne got several opportunities to impress during the Blackburn Rovers manager's five-year reign, but whenever a big game comes along, it's nearly always experience the manager will plump for.

Paul Jones has been a great servant for the Welsh, but at 37 his days are surely numbered.

And with fellow squad members Darren Ward and Mark Crossley both kicking their heels on the sidelines at Premiership clubs right now, that leaves Danny as the obvious choice to step into Jones' shoes.

Quite simply, he has been sensational this season - and already arguably the best Burnley goalkeeper since Alan Stevenson.

His shot stopping is second to none and he has kept us in games so many times - the 3-0 win over Crewe springs instantly to mind.

Naturally, there are question marks over his lack of inches - and if he was three or four inches taller he would certainly be playing in the Premiership.

But in that respect he is ably protected at Turf Moor by a dependable defence that largely keeps trouble at arms length.

That ability is sure to catch the eye of the next manager - in fact he probably already has!

Brian Flynn has been a regular at Turf Moor this season and in my eyes is the obvious choice to take charge of the national team.

A proud Welshman, he has earned his managerial spurs in over 600 games at Wrexham, and who better is there to take the role?

John Toshack is being touted in some quarters, because, I suspect he has managed bigger clubs than Brian.

But a football club is a football club and there's no doubt in my mind that Brian would do a great job.

Not only that, it would surely hand Coyne a fully deserved, not to mention his best chance of becoming his country's number one.

If only Scotland had someone dependable - on or off the pitch. Quite simply Berti Vogts has to go.

He's had his time and, although you have to feel for the German, given the 'quality' at his non-disposal, the results speak for themselves.

The Scottish Football Association must have a rethink if we are to ever regain the respect of the footballing world. Alas, at the moment, that is wishful thinking!

GREAT STOPPER: Danny Coyne