Smith opens door to duo

Published on Saturday 6 June 2009 22:42

BARRY Ferguson and Allan McGregor could yet make a dramatic return to the national team after Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith revealed he would consider overturning their lifetime bans.

Rangers duo Ferguson and McGregor were told by the SFA they would "no longer be considered for international selection" following their behaviour whilst on national team duty just over two months ago.

After the punishment was issued, Smith immediately cast doubt on its permanency by suggesting the decision could be overturned were there a change of regime at the SFA.

He went further yesterday, revealing if Scotland manager George Burley wanted to recall Ferguson and McGregor, he would be prepared to put the matter back before the current SFA board.

In an unscheduled phone call to BBC Scotland's Sportsound programme, Smith said: "If George was very strong on it then we would have to look at it very closely, of course we would."

He added: "I would think in most circumstances the board of directors might actually take it on board if George Burley was so intent on bringing these players back for very good reason. George would have to be the one that would have to come and say he's got a change of decision."

Smith made the call to Sportsound after the SFA's handling of the affair was described on the programme as "wishy washy" by Scotland on Sunday's chief sportswriter Tom English.

The problems began for midfielder Ferguson, 31, and goalkeeper McGregor, 27, after they were caught indulging in an early-hours drinking session following Scotland's World Cup qualifying defeat in Holland on March 28.

They then reacted to being dropped to the bench for the clash with Iceland four days later by flicking V-signs at photographers during the victory at Hampden. It was their latter behaviour which prompted the ultimate sanction from the SFA, a punishment Ferguson recently branded too severe.

Burley claimed at the time he had nothing to do with the decision to ban the pair but Smith insisted the Scotland manager had given it his full backing.

He added: "We actually asked the board if they were comfortable with this decision because George felt this was the right thing to do."

Smith does not believe Burley would ever want to pick Ferguson or McGregor again and therefore does not think they will add to their respective 45 and four caps. However, he refused to confirm whether he himself had voted for the ban or whether the board's decision was unanimous. But the former Rangers striker did say tellingly: "I didn't want either of these two players to be out of the team. I want all our best players to play. I actually happen to like Barry Ferguson very much as well – I know him.

"And yet, we had to make a decision because this was the Scottish international team on duty and what happened was an embarrassment to the international team."