Scotland manager Craig Levein loses patience with Steven Fletcher

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.24.1.1/28192?ns=guardian&pageName=Scotland+manager+Craig+Levein+loses+patience+with+Steven+Fletcher%3AArticle%3A1744511&ch=Football&c3=Obs&c4=Scotland+football+team%2CCraig+Levein+%28football%29%2CWolverhampton+Wanderers+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Football+World+Cup%2CScottish+Football&c6=Ewan+Murray&c7=12-May-12&c8=1744511&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&c42=Sport&h2=GU%2FSport%2FFootball%2FScotland" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">• Wolves striker exiled from team 15 months after text message<br />• Manager wants only fully committed players for World Cup</p><p>Steven Fletcher's international career has been formally ended for the foreseeable future after Craig Levein confirmed he will no longer consider the Wolverhampton Wanderers striker for any of his squads.</p><p>Fletcher has not featured for Scotland after sending a text message saying he did not want to be selected for a friendly match against Northern Ireland last February. Until now, Levein had said there was a way back for the forward if he confirmed his availability, even via the same medium.</p><p>Yet, with the Fletcher affair providing a constant backdrop to the Scotland scene, Levein has sought to remove the issue by stating the player has no chance of featuring in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Scotland's preparations begin with a match against the United States later this month.</p><p>The manager said: "This decision has been a bit of time in coming. It's now 15 months since Steven Fletcher sent a text saying: 'Tell him I don't want to play.' Those were the words.</p><p>"Very much looking at us going into a new campaign – and I consider the USA and Australia friendly games as warm-ups for the qualifiers – what I don't want is be going into this campaign with a distraction. So effectively, from now, I won't be considering Steven Fletcher for any of the friendlies or competitive matches. The door has been open. I've been honest about the whole thing and the message has been consistent from day one.</p><p>"This is a natural cut-off point for me because it's before the start of the next campaign. It's straightforward, it has to happen now."</p><p>Levein believes harmony within his squad could be damaged if the 25-year-old is seen to be able to declare as and when he wants to be picked. Still, the Wolves player's impressive form in England's top flight means Levein will come in for criticism from some supporters. An added element of intrigue is that Fletcher is thought to be a strong contender for the Great Britain Olympic football team.</p><p>"I can't afford to go into this campaign with the same distractions I've had in the last one," Levein said. "I look at a lot of things that we've learned from the last qualifiers and what's really important to me is that we have a group of players who value playing for Scotland.</p><p>"It sounds such a simple thing but they are desperately keen on playing for their country and I would be doing them a disservice if I was to consider putting anyone in the squad who was less than 100% certain about playing. I can only look at the facts and say that he is not 100% certain about playing for Scotland.</p><p>"The point I'm trying to make here is for us to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, I feel we have to be better than the sum of our parts. That means guys who are 100% committed to the team ethic, to team morale, to going that extra mile for Scotland. It's very evident to me that if you're absolutely desperate to play for your country, sending a text isn't the hardest thing to do. For me that's a clear indication he's not 100% certain it's the right thing for him.</p><p>"Let's be honest, what do I want as an indication of how important it is to play for Scotland? Do I want somebody like Steven Fletcher, or do I want somebody like Darren Fletcher? Someone who has put his health on the line continually to play for his country."</p><p>Levein stressed the move was at his own behest, rather than that of the Scottish Football Association. "What I'm saying to you is this is finished now," he said. "The whole idea of me doing this is to let the players who have done so well for us so far and who are focused on the next campaign know they're the ones who are important. There will be his side of the story in the days and weeks to come. But what I'm saying is that I have made the decision. There's no going back on this. That's it, finished. Done."</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/scotland">Scotland</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/craig-levein">Craig Levein</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wolves">Wolverhampton Wanderers</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/ewanmurray">Ewan Murray</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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