Gary McAllister has revealed that Scotland manager Craig Brown failed to convince him to end his self- imposed exile from international football in a telephone conversation on Friday night.
|  |
McAllister: Refused Brown
(Graham Chadwick/Allsport) |
The shock news comes after supporters, players - and Brown himself after naming the player in a provisional squad list - were preparing to roll out a red carpet welcome for McAllister ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifying double header.
But the 35-year-old has decided not to return, only a month after revealing that he was prepared to forgive and forget the shameful booing which prompted his decision to take international retirement following a Euro 2000 qualifier against the Czech Republic in 1999.
The news comes as a bitter blow to Brown as he prepares to announce on Thursday those selected for the Belgium and San Marino tests at Hampden Park later this month.
McAllister's name was on the SFA list of players requested for release and sent to English clubs the previous week. However, the Liverpool veteran has stressed he would only return if Brown was left with no-one else to turn to.
McAllister said: 'I spoke to Craig and I stand by what I said - if he is badly hit by call-offs and has nobody else, I will come up and play. But that is it.
'I don't expect to be named for the double header unless he gets a lot of call-offs. It never even got as far as: "If I come up, will I be on the bench?" or whatever.'
- NEWS