Chris Paterson has described new Scotland boss Andy Robinson as the best coach he has worked with in his professional career.

Paterson, his country's leading points scorer and most capped player, gave Robinson the ringing endorsement hours after the 45-year-old's predecessor severed all ties with the Scottish Rugby Union.

Paterson told BBC Scotland: "He is very fair and very hard and he is probably the best coach I've worked with in my professional era."

Frank Hadden, who stood down as Scotland head coach in April after four years in charge, was thought to have been earmarked for a new role within the SRU.

But he announced on Thursday he was taking some time out from the professional arena, in the same week the SRU confirmed they were looking to appoint a new performance director.

Paterson, 31, was a protege of Hadden's while the 54-year-old was in charge of Edinburgh.

But it appears he thinks even more highly of Robinson, who he worked under for less than a year at the capital club.

"He got the best out of me at Edinburgh last year. There's still more to come," he added. "I still feel fresh and fit and I'm looking forward to working with him and with whoever comes in at Edinburgh."