Both Fletchers in Team GB’s plans, but Stuart Pearce ‘saddened’ by SFA stance
Stuart Pearce is not pleased with the SFA stance. Picture: Getty
TEAM GB football coach Stuart Pearce said he would have no problem picking Steven Fletcher for his Olympic side despite the striker’s stand-off with Scotland manager Craig Levein, and said it was “saddening” that the concept of an all-British side had not been embraced by the SFA.
Pearce also revealed that Scotland captain Darren Fletcher remains a possible target for selection as the Manchester United midfielder bids to recover from the chronic bowel illness which has forced him to take an extended break from football.
Former England captain Pearce, who will soon try to assemble a squad from a long-list of potential players that have already been contacted, said he was saddened rather than frustrated at the constant refusal of the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh football associations to give their blessing to Team GB for this summer’s Olympics.
All three associations have discouraged their players from taking part in the tournament, fearful of their independent status within Fifa. “I find it saddening,” said Pearce in an interview with Real Radio. “I wouldn’t say frustrating. I think the bottom line is that it is down to the players. If the only reason behind that is the sovereignty of the footballing nations then there has not been anyone from Fifa or Uefa saying that we’re going to put them under threat.
“I’m not overly sure where that is coming from. I find it a little bit sad, but hey, that’s the way it is. As I’ve seen many time before people sit both sides of the fence on an argument.”
A number of Levein’s squad have been formally approached to request their availability for this summer’s Games in London, including Old Firm stars Scott Brown, James Forrest, Allan McGregor, Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker, along with Kenny Miller, Steven Fletcher, Stephen McManus and Barry Robson. But SFA chief executive Stewart Regan this week warned that Scotland’s Olympic football hopefuls could suffer the wrath of the Tartan Army if they turn out for Team GB.
Pearce added: “I hope it is without foundation. I think anyone who wants to better themselves – take my experience. Three tournaments in 12 years of international football. They come around so rarely it is frightening and probably more so the Scottish, the Northern Irish and the Welsh, maybe. We have a situation where we have an opportunity to showcase your talent as a player at a major finals in front of, hopefully, full houses of football supporters and Olympic supporters. So I think it will be a great tournament, I really do.
“The support I want is from the players. The players will be the ones we ask to come to represent us. If somewhere down the line, they say they have had a rethink about it we wouldn’t consider them and go with someone else.”
Pearce would have no qualms about picking Steven Fletcher, despite his impasse with Levein. Fletcher has not been picked for Scotland since texting an SFA official to say he did not want to be considered for the Carling Nations Cup tie against Northern Ireland in February last year.
When asked if he would have any reservations about selecting Fletcher under the circumstances, Pearce said: “No, of course not because he has not fallen out with me. Anyone that’s on that long squad, we’ll be looking at.”
Pearce will also monitor the situation regarding Manchester United’s Fletcher. “He’s an outstanding player,” Pearce said. “Take myself out the equation as Team GB manager, I just wish to see him back as quickly as possible. It’s a real shame at the moment but we’re following that situation.”
Pearce also admitted that the selection of three overage players in his squad – which will have 18 players plus four on stand-by – will be influenced by England manager Fabio Capello’s choice of players for Euro 2012, none of whom will be considered for the Olympics.
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Comments
There are 133 comments to this article
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victor is back
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 07:07 PMTightfisted - you are an utter disgrace. You are an embarrassment to Scotland. You are as big a disgrace, if thats possible, as the the northern irish athletes andor footballers who choose to represent the breakaway republic. Not quite as bad as mgeady and the worst of all mccarthy but still very, very bad. You are not wanted here. Go home.
Tightfisted
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:01 AMScots Olympic players?? QUISLINGS....it's that simple !!
c00kie
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:24 PMreally disappointed in the SFA for letting games be played at hampden. but hopefully the scottish public will show the matches at hampden the indifference they deserve and stay away in their droves. an empty (or low crowd) hampden will look great on television and show the world what scotland thinks of team-gb. incidentally i understand its called team-gb (the parts of the UK that are not Northern Ireland) not team-uk after the whole state (UK) cos the olympics allow athletes in northern ireland the option of representing either ireland or gb.
Pilrig.
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:00 PM125 - end o' the (English) Football Association ? Aye, right. If tyhe four associations have to merge the new body will be called the Football Association and will be based in London.
Pilrig.
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 09:55 PM121 - why anyone takes the Olympic fitba tourney seriously ? Pearce does cos he's gettin' paid. Steven Fletcher (who I have a high opinion o' otherwise) wants tae have a dig at Levein. But c'mon the Olympic fitba' tourney has all the credentials o' a pre-season friendly.
big is the new small
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 08:06 PM#121 victor is back - and there's the rub. FIFA can't give any guarantees as it's an elected committee that could change the following day and reverse any previous decisions. that is why it is far too risky to have all four home nations playing in this under-23 tournament. all that Pearce's selfish actions will do is encourage those who want to see four FIFA committee seats and 50% of the IFAB reduced to one solitary voice.
big is the new small
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 08:01 PM#117 Petkingbonga - it doesn't matter if you're good enough. you must be under-23 to play unless you're Beckham, Giggs or Owen. this makes the tournament worthless.
big is the new small
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 07:57 PMand for what? for an under-23 tournament that nobody has cared about in the past when England and Scotland have qualified (then subsequently declined their invitations) for in recent years. no wonder the biggest English fans group (FSF) is against this plan.
big is the new small
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 07:55 PMoh the irony if Stuart Pearce's selfish actions result in the end of the English FA and the English national football team.
Dandyhurl
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 07:20 PM121victor is back "Similarly the statement made today by Regan at the SFA. To threaten any Scottish player that takes part with a fans backlash is unforgivable." He didn't make any threat, merely pointed out the obvious. The threat he SHOULD have made was that any player turning out for this spurious London Oplymics bash team would be banned sine die from ever pulling on a Scotland shirt again!
Petekingbonga
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:26 PMGenerosity of spirit has never been a Celtic trait, I suppose most of you recognize that any player from Scotland or Northern Ireland would be the token gesture, so why would you support a Team GB? Add to this your casual racism towards the English and just admit its nothing to do with losing your place at FIFA!
abner doubleday
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:02 PMTEAM GB - a slap in the face for Northern Ireland. Just like Anglo-German talks and anything else to do with England
victor is back
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 05:51 PMBoring boring boring. It is all so simple it defies belief we are still having to talk about this. Let me make it abundantly clear - some people in Scotland want nothing to do with team GB. Entirely their right and entirely fair enough. Some people in Scotland however are quite keen on the idea and would most certainly like to be involved. Also entirely their right and also entirely fair enough. Having said that , i think the numbers from Scotland would be low if not actually 0 if anyone could know for certain that the involvement of Scots andor the SFA would bring to an end 130 proud years of Scotland's national football team. Whilst there seems very little chance of that happening i don't think anyone, in their right mind, would want to take the risk. So, how do we solve the problem? Simple. Ask FIFA for a written guarantee that any involvement by Scottish players andor getting official SFA backing would not now and not ever threaten Scotland's fututre as a separate footballing nation. If that guarantee is not given then the SFA are quite correct to have nothing to do with it. If the written guarantee is given then we should all crack on with it, get behind the team and especially any scottish players lucky enough to be involved, stop being so petty, so childish, so small minded in our fairly typical anti-english way of trying to somehow prove we are pro-scottish. Some of you should go and read the buffoon chick young's blog on the beeb today. Whilst no one even remotely takes him seriously any more, if indeed they ever did, even by his appallingly low standards it is quite frankly disgraceful. Similarly the statement made today by Regan at the SFA. To threaten any Scottish player that takes part with a fans backlash is unforgivable. The man should be removed from office without delay.
jerrymanders
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 04:42 PMNorway, that's the model to follow. Denmark, not too bad either. Yes, look across the water and see the light, do not look South, for that is eternal darkness.
jerrymanders
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 04:38 PM#117 So the players can decide and ruin it for our Nation? Don't think so.
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