Hegarty lost his own job as part of the backroom staff, along with Terry Butcher, when the axe fell in the wake of last weekend's defeat in Wales.

He says the players themselves know the 3-0 thrashing simply was not good enough and he urged them to hold onto that memory in a bid to avoid a repeat in the future.

Hegarty said: "Managers are judged on results and managers normally fall by the wayside because of that.

"I'm sure the players will be hurting. They know they didn't play well against Wales. There was silence after the game, they were upset, we were upset.

"If the players can remember what it felt like at quarter to five in Wales, they should make sure it doesn't happen again - not just for themselves, but for Scotland as a nation.

"We had a few thousand Scotland fans there who had paid good money and I know if I was a supporter I would have been looking for a better performance.

"The players know they didn't do well."

Despite lasting just two months in the job, Hegarty admits he would jump at the chance to rejoin the Scotland set-up.

The search has now begun for Burley's successor but, far from being jaded by his experience of working with the national team, Hegarty says he would be interested in resuming his role under the new boss.

"Of course I would be," he said. "You really don't know what's going to happen in life in general and especially in football.

"I was actually abroad with my wife when George Burley phoned me and asked me if I would come on board.

"You could have knocked me down with a feather because that was the furthest thing from my mind. I was just hoping to get back into club football.

"Yes, I would be interested. But that's for other people to decide. People know what I'm like on and off the park.

"Some might like me, some might not like me. That's up to them. All I'm concerned about is trying to get back into a working environment in football that I know and love."

His short-lived career with the Scotland team is the latest setback in a luckless managerial career which has also included spells with Aberdeen, Dundee United and Livingston.

"I've had so many phone calls and texts saying that I've been really unlucky," he admitted.

"If the truth be told, I would say I have been. It's just circumstances and being in the right place at the right time.

"But I wouldn't change what George asked me to do two months ago.

"I was out of a job and looking for employment and I wouldn't have changed it, albeit it has only been two games and six training sessions.

"I've loved every minute of it because I was back in the environment that I enjoy and know. What I did miss most was dealing with players, football people.

"You miss the camaraderie, the banter, the jokes and, most importantly, you miss the football side of it. That's what I want to get back to."

Walter Smith, Craig Levein and Jim Jefferies have all been linked with the vacancy, while John Collins, Jimmy Calderwood and Csaba Laszlo are among those who have expressed an interest.

"That's for the powers that be to decide," said Hegarty. "The people who have been mentioned are always going to be mentioned and they are very good candidates.

"I've not really got any opinion on that. I'll just have to wait and see like everyone else."

However, as far as Hegarty is concerned, there is one requirement the new manager must fulfil.

He said: "If you asked me personally do I want a Scottish manager - yes. Because I'm Scottish."