SFA chief executive Gordon Smith has accused Barry Ferguson of purposely disrupting Scotland's preparations for their World Cup qualifier in Norway. Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were banned from representing Scotland ever again for their behaviour while on international duty against Holland and Iceland last season and the former Rangers star launched a stinging attack on the Scottish Football Association over their handling of the affair.

"The timing's obviously planned to try to be negative regarding something to do with the team," said Smith, speaking at Glasgow Airport with the Scotland squad.

"If Barry Ferguson wants to make comments, that's entirely up to him.

"Regardless of what he said, we have no response to it because we're just concentrating on an important game."

Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher also claimed he had not read the article but was just as critical of its timing.

"It's not good timing when it comes two days before one of the most important matches Scotland will ever play," he said.

"I'm sure the squad will just be focused on getting the result out there so we'll leave it at that."

If the article was designed as a distraction, Butcher was confident it will fail.

He added: "There's some young players out there, some exciting young players as well as older players as well. It's a very good blend.

"It's a squad that's evolving, it's a squad that's going forward and hopefully going forward well in Oslo."

It's understood the SFA dispute Ferguson's version of events, claiming there had been phone calls with Rangers chief executive Martin Bain before the statement was released.