IT will surprise some of the more closeted out there but the departure of our national team manager Gordon Strachan on Thursday was a big story, not only in Scotland, but across the UK.

I was chatting on Liverpool’s finest, Radio City Talk, with my good friend Connor Phillips, talking through the demise of Strachan when we were joined by resident Everton (and Dumbarton) legend Graeme Sharp.

‘Sharpy’ added to the debate, basically saying that Strachan had struggled because he didn’t have the quality of player required.

In a week when Iceland qualified for the World Cup, I couldn’t help but mention Scotland facing the North Atlantic island during qualifiers for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

At Hampden, Scotland had a front three (yes, that’s allowed Gordon) of Kenny Dalglish, Mo Johnston and Davie Cooper, King Kenny making way for ‘Champagne’ Charlie Nicholas, while in Reykjavik, our front three was Strachan wide, Sharp and Andy Gray, who was subbed by Steve Archibald, of Barcelona.

We won 1-0; Jim Bett scored, and Graeme Souness mistimed an assault, I mean tackle, on Siggi Jonsson. Compared to that talented bunch, saying Strachan didn’t have the players is an understatement.

UP until about just after six o’clock last Sunday evening I thought I had a very good chance of bringing what has become something of a historical document, up to date (see picture gallery).

This is my press accreditation from France 98, the last time Scotland qualified for the World Cup finals. But going into Sunday’s game against Slovenia, I was genuinely confident that I might get a Russia 2018 version to wear.

And then it all went very Scottish ...

I have long hammered the FIFA World Rankings, almost as much as I have panned anyone who looks upon them as being a relevant gauge or measure. This week is no different, having been teed up with another prime example of kidology.

Scotland started 2017 ranked No.67 in the world and next week they will be listed as 29th best in international football, entirely down to their long, unbeaten sequence. However, the World Cup finals in Russia next year will feature 32 nations - except Scotland, as we all know, won’t be there.

And that renders our world standing as nothing more than something for Strachanites to hide behind.

Lies, damn lies and statistics as they say.

I recall when Scotland were drawn in the same qualifying group against Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, Wales and Macedonia as we tried to make it to the tournament in Brazil in 2014.

Nicola Sturgeon, then as Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, said she thought the draw was ‘not bad,’ thus displaying what happens when any politician isn’t properly briefed about football.

Remember David Cameron’s love affair with West Ham, or was it Aston Villa?

On Sunday, Aileen Campbell, declared ‘I love you Neil Griffiths,’ seconds after our opener vs Slovenia. She is Scottish Government Minister for Public Health and ‘Sport.’

Sack your advisors ...