Thomson calls for fresh start

Scotland ace hoping Ferguson and McGregor are handed recalls

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 18th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Thomson calls for fresh start

Thomson: Would welcome Smith appointment

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Kevin Thomson is hoping Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will return to the Scotland fold under the new regime.

The duo were placed in international exile under George Burley, with their actions following a World Cup qualifier against Holland drawing widespread criticism.

Burley, though, was relieved of his duties on Monday after failing to guide Scotland to South Africa, with the search now underway to find a replacement.

Rangers midfielder Thomson hopes whoever is appointed offers an olive branch to Ferguson and McGregor, with both men currently in fine form for Birmingham and Rangers respectively.

"With Fergie and Greegsy I think it was just a case of wrong time and wrong place," Thomson told the Daily Record.

"It was a wee bit frustrating and I think it could have been handled a bit better on all sides.

"They got the punishment some people thought they deserved. The club and the nation have had to move on.

"At the end of the day they are both top players. So if Scotland want to have any success they really should have their best players playing.

Second chance

"Everyone in life, whether you are a footballer or in any line of work, should be given a second chance."

Thomson has also offered his opinion on who the next Scotland boss should be - his club manager at Ibrox, Walter Smith.

"I think he is as good as anyone to take the job," he said.

"But I'm not the SFA board, I don't decide who gets the job. It's not my decision to push him in that direction to help the country out.

"But, if they were to pick one of the best managers around, Walter would certainly be in that category.

"He would be a huge loss to Rangers. He is a top manager and I'm sure I speak on behalf of all the punters and players when I say we wouldn't want to lose him.

"But he is at that stage in his career now where, if he fancies it, he might go for it. He might not.

"We've got him at the moment and we are quite happy. As far as we are concerned, he is the Rangers boss and we all thrive on working under him."