Allan McGregor has confirmed he has no intention of bailing Scotland boss Steve Clarke out v Cyprus and Spain next month, after the former Tartan Army goalie confirmed, effectively, that he’s not interested in playing for Scotland again despite the manager having no convincing options in goal.
McGregor quit permanently in 2018, but there was also a huge bone to pick following what happened in 2008 at Loch Lomond, and McGregor only ever won a modest 42 caps, despite being the best Scottish goalkeeper the country has produced outside of an elite few.
And on that topic he dismissed the idea almost completely:
“I wouldn’t have thought so. Nobody has spoken to me about it and I’ve not really thought about it so I’d find it highly unlikely. Would I rule it out? I think I’ve got my holidays booked for that week, to be honest with you.”
That’s as close to a no as we’ll ever get – and he’s absolutely bang on. The Scotland NT regime never gave McGregor the respect he deserved, choosing more often than not to plump with Hearts’ Craig Gordon, who in fairness is and was a top goalkeeper too. But he’s injured and won’t feature next month, meaning there’s a vacancy.
But McGregor is clear – he doesn’t care and isn’t interested in helping out, or reversing his decision. He was maligned in 2008, never truly forgiving the NT for that, Burley for that, anyone for that, and it left a sour taste in his mouth, and indeed most Rangers-associated folks who share the same sentiments.
He’s unfortunately one of the great players denied the chance to play at a major championships, Ryan Giggs being another infamous example.
But it’s his choice now, and he’s not going back on it, no matter how much it would help Scotland potentially qualify for a major championships.
Former Rangers man Duncan Ferguson famously regrets the same outcome for his career, for dumping Scotland, but he sticks by his principles and wouldn’t do it differently.
Funny how it’s always Rangers players the ones cast out by Scotland and treated differently and badly, isn’t it?