Scottish independence: Andy Murray keeps quiet

Andy Murray's gets his own sign at the Scotland/England border after winning Wimbledon. Picture:SWNS

Murray joked in an interview ahead of the 2006 football World Cup that he would be supporting anyone but England and the remark has dogged him ever since.

It is still cited by some English people as a reason not to support him, even though the reigning Wimbledon champion has explained many times since that it was not a serious comment.

Speaking at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, the Scots star said: “I will take a position.

“My thoughts on it aren’t that relevant, because I can’t vote myself.

“I wouldn’t personally choose to make my feelings on something like that public either because not a whole lot of good comes from it.

“I don’t know a whole lot about politics, and I have made that mistake in the past and it’s caused me a headache for seven or eight years of my life and a lot of abuse.

“So I wouldn’t consider getting involved in something like that ever again.”

Murray spoke after beating Lukas Rosol 4-6 6-3 6-2 in the second round of the competition.

Voters will go to the polls on 18 September to decide whether to break the Union and go it alone.

Murray’s comments are a reversal of what he said following his Wimbledon triumph last summer, when he stated he would say what side he was on once he had made up his mind.

He spends a lot more time in America currently than in Scotland and uses Miami as his base for pre-season training and for other periods during the year.

He said: “I love the States. I have loved it since the first time I came for the Orange Bowl when I was 11 years old.

“I just enjoy the positivity of the people here. You wake up at 6am and go to Starbucks and the person that’s serving you just genuinely seems happy to see you.

“They are awake and just have a positive outlook on life.

“It’s not the case everywhere. That’s why I always enjoy coming here, why I spend my off seasons training here and why I have made Miami my second home.”