SPORT NEWS

No Scotland return for Ferguson

by setanta.com staff , 06 July 2010

Midfielder Barry Ferguson will not play for Scotland again, it has been confirmed by manager Craig Levein.


The Birmingham City midfielder was frozen out by the national set-up after a heavy drinking session ahead of a game against Iceland when George Burley was in charge of Scotland.

Levein, of course, replaced Burley in the hotseat after Scotland’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup and he had hoped that he would be able to lure Ferguson back to his side, but he has now confirmed that Ferguson will not be returnong after he held talks with him on Monday night.

The former Rangers and Blackburn Rovers man instead wants to concentrate on club football after he played a key role in Birmingham’s great season last year, one in which they finished ninth in the Premier League on the back of promotion from the Championship.

Levein said on Tuesday: "I am naturally disappointed not to call on Barry’s abilities and experience for the Euro 2012 qualification campaign, but I understand his reasons.

"The arrangement was that Barry would have the summer to decide.

"Birmingham returned to pre-season training yesterday and when we spoke last night, he said that both family commitments and his commitment to Birmingham City were the priorities in his life at the moment.

"I wish him the best of luck and we now move on with our preparations for the qualification campaign, starting with the friendly against Sweden next month."


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