An international minefield

Good relations: Brown with Man Utd boss Alex Ferguson

By BBC Sport Online's Mark Barden

The days when a call-up to international duty swept all other considerations before it are, it seems, long gone.

Peter Taylor is England's new caretaker manager - but only for the friendly against Italy in Turin on 15 November.

The FA turned to the Leicester City boss after they were rebuffed in their bid to get Bobby Robson to take charge of the team for an emotional return to the scene of England's Italia 90 semi-final.

Robson's chairman at Newcastle, Freddy Shepherd, admits he put club before country by denying Robson the chance to fill his old international post, even for just one match.

"I'm as patriotic as the next man," he said, "but I don't see others being patriotic when their manager is being mentioned as a future England manager."

Leicester chairman John Elsom has made it clear that Taylor's role in any new England set-up must not interfere with his duties at Filbert Street.

Demands

Scotland boss Craig Brown has first-hand experience of the tensions between the domestic and international games.

If they work hard for me and the team, I will give them my respect and let them know I appreciate their efforts. Playing for your country is an honour, and players who do should be made to feel special.

  Craig Brown

"About a year ago, Alec Miller, my assistant, was offered and accepted the post of chief scout at Liverpool, but they refused to allow him to continue doing both jobs.

"I was disappointed because I think it would have been beneficial to both Scotland and Liverpool for him to carry on.

"On the other hand, Everton have no problem with Archie Knox, who is Walter Smith's number two, also being my assistant.

"It's good for me because Archie has a real feel for the English game, and it's good for Everton because working at international level makes any good coach an even better one."

Diplomacy

After seven years in the Scotland hotseat, with another seven as assistant before that, Brown knows that tact and diplomacy are essential when dealing with the Club v Country issue.

"That's certainly true when it comes to dealing with today's players. They've got the money, but what they want most from international football is respect.

"If they work hard for me and the team, I will give them my respect and let them know I appreciate their efforts. Playing for your country is an honour, and players who do should be made to feel special."

But is the lure of international honours as strong as it used to be?

Brown admits: "In my time as manager there have been one or two players who were less than enthusiastic about representing Scotland, and if that's the case they don't get selected.

"I don't think the percentage of withdrawals from our squads through injury is any higher now than it ever has been.

"Players still have a genuine desire to play for their country and, by and large, their clubs want them to. It makes them better players, adds to their value and brings prestige."