newzechoblogMassive War Inside Scotland Dressing Room: Groups Of Players That Can’t Stand Each Other After Steve Clarke Departure
The Scotland camp has exploded.
Just weeks after Steve Clarke stepped down as head coach, the Scotland dressing room has descended into what senior sources are calling “a civil war.” Two clear factions have formed, players who “can’t stand each other” are refusing to speak, and the SFA now faces its biggest crisis since the dark days of the early 2000s.
What was meant to be a fresh start has turned into open warfare.
How It All Fell Apart After Clarke Left
Clarke’s exit was emotional but planned. He told the squad after the Nations League campaign that he was leaving to “protect his health and family.” The players applauded. The public message was unity.
Behind closed doors, it was different.
Clarke had been the glue. For 6 years he managed egos, picked between rival club cliques, and kept a lid on long-running tensions between Scotland’s Premier League core and the England-based contingent.
With him gone, that lid came off.
The first flashpoint came during the first training camp under interim boss John Carver. A tactical drill split the squad into “leaders” and “younger players.” By the end of the session, shouting was heard from the changing rooms. One coach told the SFA: “It wasn’t football frustration. It was personal.”
The Two Factions
Sources inside the camp say the dressing room has split into two distinct groups:
Group 1: The “Home Core”
Led by senior Celtic and Rangers players. This group feels they carried Scotland through qualifying and believe the team should be built around Scottish-based identity, work rate, and togetherness. They are furious at what they see as “big-time attitudes” from some England-based stars.
Key names mentioned: Callum McGregor, Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay.
Group 2: The “EPL Contingent”
A group of Premier League regulars who feel the tactics under Clarke held them back. They want a more progressive, possession style and believe some of the “home core” are blocking change. They also feel they get blamed unfairly when results go bad.
Key names mentioned: Billy Gilmour, Che Adams, Ben Doak, Aaron Hickey.
The problem isn’t tactics. It’s trust. Multiple players have told staff they “wouldn’t go for a coffee” with members of the other group. WhatsApp groups have split. On team buses, players sit separately.
The Flashpoints
- Captaincy row
With Robertson injured, the armband was rotated. McGregor got it for one game, McTominay the next. After the second game, members of Group 1 were heard questioning why “EPL lads” were being prioritized for leadership. A heated exchange followed in the hotel. - Media leaks
After a 2-1 loss last month, details of a dressing room argument were in the press within hours. Both sides blamed the other. Carver called an emergency meeting and told players: “If you leak again, you’re gone.” The leaks stopped, but the suspicion didn’t. - Training ground split
In the last camp, warm-ups were done in two separate circles. Coaches had to physically merge the groups for drills. One SFA staff member said: “It felt like two different squads who just happen to wear the same shirt.”
What The Players Are Saying
Publicly, everyone is saying the right things. Privately, it’s brutal.
A senior player from Group 1: “We won games because we were a team. Now it’s cliques. Some lads think they’re bigger than Scotland.”
A player from Group 2: “We want to play modern football. We get told to ‘run more’ and ‘dig in’. That’s not enough anymore. And we get scapegoated for it.”
Neither side mentions Clarke by name, but both say the same thing: “He was the only one who could control it.”
SFA In Crisis Mode
The Scottish FA did not expect this. They thought an interim period would be calm. Now they are scrambling.
CEO Ian Maxwell has held one-to-one talks with 8 senior players. An external mediator was brought in last week to run “culture sessions.” The SFA released a short statement: “We are aware of challenges and are working with staff and players to ensure focus remains on Scotland.”
But inside Hampden there is panic. The next manager appointment is now being judged not just on tactics, but on “man-management and authority.” Names like David Moyes and Steven Gerrard are being discussed partly because of their reputation for handling big dressing rooms.
Why This Is Bigger Than One Camp
This isn’t just about personalities. It’s about identity.
Scottish football has always had a club rivalry running through the national team. Celtic vs Rangers. That was manageable under Clarke because he had authority and results.
Now, add the Premier League money gap. EPL players earn 10x more, play in Europe every week, and come back to a squad where some teammates play 35 games a year in Scotland. Resentment builds both ways.
And with Euro 2028 qualifying starting soon, the timing could not be worse.
What Happens Next
The SFA has 3 problems to fix before the next window:
- Appoint a permanent manager with instant authority – Someone the whole squad respects, regardless of club.
- Clear the air – A full squad meeting with no coaches, mediated by SFA legends, is being planned for September.
- Pick a captain and stick with it – The rotation has made things worse. Robertson will return, but questions remain about the vice-captaincy.
If they don’t, Scotland risk wasting a golden generation. McTominay, Gilmour, Hickey, Doak, Ferguson — this should be Scotland’s best squad in 25 years. Instead, they might implode before a ball is kicked.
The Bottom Line
Steve Clarke didn’t just manage games. He managed people. Without him, the fault lines he papered over have become canyons.
Right now, Scotland don’t have a football problem. They have a people problem. Two groups of players who wear the same badge but can’t stand to be in the same room.
Until the SFA fixes the dressing room, it doesn’t matter who the next manager is. Because a team that doesn’t speak to each other can’t play for each other.
newzechoblog
Ejima hassan
Haruna Onimisi