Barry Ferguson felt hung out to dry over Boozegate but the SFA used me as scapegoat - Steven Pressley

One minute Steven Pressley was proudly motoring towards 50 caps and a place in Scotland’s Hall of Fame.

The next, he was holding George Burley’s clipboard as part of a chaotic management team which was destined to end in embarrassment and shame. In this week’s episode of our new explosive new podcast Off the Record Pressley lifts the lid on one of the most controversial periods in the history of our national team, including his part in the Boozegate scandal which would bring Burley down – and end the Scotland career of Barry Ferguson and very nearly that of Fergie’s Rangers pal Allan McGregor.

Pressley reveals how it all began when his own playing days in a Scotland shirt came to a shuddering halt when he was red-carded for an Andriy Shevchenko dive during Walter Smith’s last game in charge. Pressley takes up the story and said: “At times some of the enjoyment had gone out of playing for Scotland. During the Berti Vogts times, they were difficult years. It was difficult playing at Hampden sometimes with so many call-offs in front of eight or nine thousand supporters. It was a tough period.

“Then Walter came in and completely put the belief back in the team and the country and I really enjoyed my time working with him. Alex McLeish had just taken over after that game against Ukraine and I was suspended for a game.

"Stephen McManus came in and played well and I never managed to get my position back after that. Then, not long after, I became a coach within the organisation.”

And that’s when Pressley found himself locked into the epicentre of an imminent national disaster – after disregarding a warning from yours truly. He went on: “Do you know what’s interesting and I remember this, I received a phone call from you