THE Scottish Government has ruled out a call to make Flower of Scotland the country's national anthem.
A spokeswoman said there needed to be "wider political support" for the move, despite claims adopting the song might unite the country following last year's independence referendum.
The Scottish Football Association last week revealed the findings of a poll which showed 56 per cent of supporters overall wanted the song officially designated the national anthem.
A questionnaire was circulated to 35,000 official supporters' club members and through the SFA's Twitter account and the national team's Facebook page.
Of 23,000 responses on social media, 65 per cent were in favour of move, however 60 per cent of the 12,606 Tartan Army members who responded were against.
The SFA quizzed fans at the request of the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee, which is considering a call to make the 1965 Corries hit, inspired by the Battle of Bannockburn, the country's anthem.
Popular alternatives proposed by fans included Dougie MacLean's Caledonia, Scotland the Brave and The Proclaimers' 500 Miles.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "A national anthem is an important part of a nation's culture and heritage. Any choice should have wide public support.
"It is clear that different songs or anthems are enthusiastically adopted at different sporting occasions, but that is not the same as a country or a nation determining to have a single designated song or anthem to the exclusion of all others.
"The government currently has no plans to designate a national anthem and any such move would require wider political support."
Flower of Scotland, written by the late Roy Williamson, has been played at international football and rugby matches for the past 20 years.
Holyrood's petitions committee is considering a request by Chris Cromar, a student at Aberdeen University and former Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, to have it officially recognised.
Addressing MSPs last month, he rejected claims the song was anti-English and insisted it could "unite the nation" after the referendum.
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