World Cup 2018: Sam Allardyce's England exit helps Scotland - Craig Brown

Sam Allardyce is the shortest-serving England manager in history

Sam Allardyce's surprise exit as England manager will help Scotland's chances of qualifying from their World Cup group, according to Craig Brown.

It followed an allegation that 61-year-old Allardyce offered advice on how to "get around" player transfer rules.

"It is a slight boost to Scotland because a team would like stability and Sam's had one game," said former Scotland manager Brown.

"Now there's a complete and utter upset south of the Border."

• Allardyce leaves after on match

• Candidates for England job

• England are laughing stock - Shearer

Allardyce, who succeeded Roy Hodgson after this summer's Euro 2016 finals, had led England to victory in Slovakia - his only match in charge - thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Adam Lallana.

With Scotland having won 5-1 in Malta, it means that the traditional rivals are only separated by goal difference at the top of European qualifying Group F after the opening fixtures.

Scotland head coach Gordon Strachan will name his squad on Wednesday morning for the forthcoming qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia.

Gareth Southgate is due to be in charge of England against Scotland in November

Allardyce was preparing his selection for England's matches against Malta and Slovenia, but under-21 boss Gareth Southgate will now have that task on Sunday.

The former Middlesbrough manager has been given control for at least four matches, the third of which is a qualifier at home to the Scots on 11 November, as the FA in England searches for a permanent successor.

"It mixes them up a bit because they were looking forward to having Sam Allardyce as the manager," Brown, who knows the former England boss well, told BBC Scotland.

"He is a hugely experienced guy. Now, with the greatest will in the world, Gareth Southgate hasn't the same experience as Sam. He's not got the track record.

"He was at Middlesbrough for a while as manager and managed the England Under-21 team, so he really hasn't got the vast experience that Sam had.

"We don't know how good he is going to be, although he did exceptionally well with the England Under-21 team and a lot of these lads that have come through were his boys some years ago.

"It might yet turn out to be a good thing for England, but I would rather be playing against Gareth Southgate than Sam Allardyce if I was Gordon Strachan."

Adam Lallana scored England's late winner against Slovakia

Allardyce succeeded Hodgson in July after England suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat by Iceland in the last 16 in France.

He became their national side's shortest-serving full-time manager after the Daily Telegraph allegations, which included the suggestion that he used his role to negotiate a deal worth £400,000 to represent a Far East firm, and an FA statement that said Allardyce's conduct "was inappropriate".

Brown thought that the former Sunderland, West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers boss's departure would have a greater effect on England's players than their Scotland counterparts.

"In my experience, I don't think players thought too much about the opposing manager, although managers are becoming more high profile than they used to be," he added.

"The players respect Gordon Strachan greatly and it will maybe take a while before the England team have the same respect for the new manager they're getting.

"Stability has gone and we hope that Scotland are the team, with a good opening result, that can continue with that momentum and the upset in England will help us."