Gordon Smith last night pre-empted any post-Norway hysteria by insisting George Burley's position will remain secure regardless of Scotland's fortunes at Hampden Park.

The chief executive of the Scottish FA dismissed the very notion that the board would consider a parting of ways with Burley should Scotland's campaign falter after only three games. Smith, who is close to announcing a new £3m sponsorship deal for the Scottish Cup, was also adamant his own position is not linked to Burley's results.

"His position is under no threat at all," said Smith. "George cannot be judged on Saturday alone. What happens against Norway will have no bearing on George's situation.

I also don't think that the board are judged in relation to George's situation, either, and my role is not wrapped up in results on the field."

Only a victory will perpetuate realistic ambitions of Scotland reaching the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. The opening defeat to Macedonia in Group 9 has left no further margin for error in the first half of the qualification process.

Failure to beat Age Hareide's team tomorrow would leave Scotland with a momentous task and staring at possible elimination when the campaign resumes against Holland in the Amsterdam Arena next March.

"This is a crucial game against Norway. If we don't win then you start to have a bit of doubt about qualifying," Smith admitted. "I always said we will have a clearer indication after Holland away and then Iceland at home. In saying that, the weekend game will be big psychologically.

The fact is there is a long time between this one and going to Holland and we want to look forward to that game with optimism on the back of a positive result."

The national coach was pilloried for the defeat in Skopje but redeemed himself in the eyes of his media critics with a bold and brave victory against Iceland in Reykjavik. Burley will come under scrutiny again this weekend but not within the corridors of power at Hampden Park. "It's funny because he seems to be getting judged game by game," said Smith. "He was bad after Macedonia and then good again after Iceland. It's normal and it applies to us as well. He is the right man who will take us forward. I was involved in the due diligence process and from those discussions, and what he has done so far, he is a manager who knows what is going on."

Smith, speaking at the launch of a new initiative to promote positive citizenship through football, was cautiously optimistic of announcing a new sponsor for the Scottish Cup. A unique deal has been agreed in principle with the Scottish Government and Willie Haughey, the owner of City Refrigerations, to replace Tennent's, who ended their 17-year association with the competition last year.

The news comes two months after the SFA announced a £60m television deal with Sky Sports and BBC Scotland for future international broadcast coverage.

"We have just announced a new television deal which runs from 2010 until 2014 and we are in the process of obtaining a Scottish Cup sponsor," said Smith. "That is vital because we have had to finance the competition payments ourselves and it has meant that we have had to tighten our belt accordingly.

"We do not budget for qualifying, probably wisely, but the Scottish Cup sponsor will be a huge help. Discussions are taking place and we would hope to make an announcement shortly."

Reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in more than a decade would yield a financial windfall estimated at £10m, but Smith is more concerned with prestige than pound notes.

"I would never say the money generated from the World Cup finals would be an irrelevance but given our situation and the length of time since we last qualified, it would be secondary to the importance of being involved again," he said.