Scotland goalkeeper Andy Goram left the international squad yesterday and returned home claiming that he had been forced out of the finals in France by the tabloid newspapers.

Goram, who has been capped more than 50 times for his country, was released by Rangers at the end of the season and the focus on his private life by some newspapers has been unremitting.

Yesterday, after phoning home to discover that even more 'revelations' were being planned by one newspaper and that friends of his were also being 'persecuted' by some sections of the Press, Goram decided that enough was enough.

He sought out team manager Craig Brown, spoke to him, then handed him the letter which

is reproduced in today's Herald with Goram's full permission.

Clearly upset at having to take such a drastic step, Goram said to me: ''It's bad enough when these stories are being used against me, but when you have friends who are being persecuted as well then it is too much for anyone to take.

''All I want to do is get away from all this hassle and get on with my life.

''That would not have been possible if I was playing at the World Cup because there is so much attention given to that.

''It was heart-breaking for me to leave Rangers and it is equally heart-breaking now to have to do this.

''I explained it all to Craig and he was completely understanding and very supportive.''

Added the keeper, who was given the No.1 spot in Euro96 and looked sure to be handed the position in these finals in the summer: ''I had two copies of the letter made, one for Craig and one for yourself, because I want people to know what has been happening. It is as if there is a campaign against me.''

Goram already has been offered an out-of-court settlement by one newspaper and is awaiting an apology from others over suggestions that the ''Smell the Glove'' slogan on the Celtic players' shirts on the day they won the title had been directed at him, and his lawyers are considering further legal action against yet another newspaper.

As far as the Celtic allegations were concerned, the Parkhead players have insisted that Goram was not a target and they have apologised to him about the references.

It took a lot for Goram to give up his chance of playing in the World Cup finals for the first time.

He admitted: ''I was there in Mexico in l986 when Alex Ferguson gave me my chance but, of course, I didn't play then.

''After that, Jim Leighton was preferred to me in Italy in l990 and when the last finals in the United States came along we had not qualified.

''I was hoping this would be my big moment but I know it would not be fair on the other lads and on Craig to go along when so many things are happening to upset me.''

It was with reluctance that Brown accepted the keeper's decision because Goram is a player he admires and one he has stood by over the years, despite any problems he may have had off the field.

There was the famous occasion when Goram announced that he was not ''mentally attuned'' to playing in a European Championship qualifying tie, but later in the tournament, he was back in place.

Now, Brown will not have the difficult choice to make that he had in England two years ago.

Then Goram was given pre-cedence over Leighton, and it probably would have happened again in France.

However, the Aberdeen veteran will be the main man now with Neil Sullivan as his back-up and with Celtic's Jonathan Gould being drafted into the 22 who head for France next month.

Goram's mentor and confidant at club and international level, goalkeeping coach Alan Hodgkinson, said yesterday at the team's headquarters: ''I was almost in tears when Andy spoke to me. He has worked so hard in training over here and has been looking really good - then all these other things have intruded.

''I feel devastated for him and for the squad, as well. But, mostly for Andy, who is now never going to play at the World Cup finals.''

The goalkeeper who started his career with Oldham was bought by Hibernian, whose then manager Alex Miller is now Brown's right- hand man with Scotland. From there he joined Rangers in a #1m deal when he was the first signing Walter Smith made after being appointed manager.

He is one of the veteran casual-ties in the ongoing Ibrox revolution which is taking place as Smith moves out and Dutchman Dick Advocaat takes over.

Along with others who formed the backbone of Rangers' most successful group, he is leaving, although he was offered month-to-month contracts by chairman David Murray.

Goram wanted more than that and he is now awaiting offers from England and abroad.

Again, good displays in the World Cup would have boosted his value but even that consideration was not enough to sway him from yesterday's decision.

In his letter he pointed out: ''It would be easier for me to just sit and collect my money for partici-pating, as a player or substitute, from the World Cup and the players' pool. Money doesn't come into it. I've never played in a World Cup, but contentment is more important than controversy.

''From today, Tuesday, 26th June (he meant May, of course), I've retired from international football.''

Throughout the current tour and before, even going back to the European finals in England, Brown has constantly talked about the high standards of goalkeeping shown by Goram and Leighton.

Even the other day he gave them a half apiece in a practice game against local Major League side Metro Stars and might have done the same in the international in Washington this weekend.

Now, though, Goram has gone and in his letter he added: ''Yes, you have got to me! (Press). But I won't let it upset Craig's plans. If anything you have made his job easier!''

Personally, though, I believe that Brown would rather he still had to face up to the goalkeeping dilemma rather than see one of his key players driven out of the squad by outside influences.

A statement issued by the Scottish Football Association read: ''The Association's International Committee and the International team manager have reluctantly agreed to a request from Andy Goram to be released from the squad immediately and to his retirement from international football.

''The player made this request in view of the publicity surrounding him recently and in an effort to prevent it affecting the squad's preparation for the World Cup.''

SFA President Jack McGinn applauded Goram for his contribution to Scotland.

McGinn said: ''He leaves with the best wishes of the Association and everyone connected with the squad.

''We ask that his wishes about his privacy be respected.

''We all appreciate his contribution to Scotland throughout his international career.''

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