Brown last year presented a petition, entitled Save Scottish Football to the SFA at Hampden Park and is upset that the views of the public have been ignored.

 

Like many in Scotland he fears that the country's independence to compete in events like the World Cup and European Championships could be jeopardised if they agree to take part in a joint British team.

 

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs are set to sign an agreement where they would have no involvement at all in the Olympics but would not prevent England from representing Britain on a one-off basis for the London Games.

 

Brown, who managed Scotland between 1993 and 2001, leading them to the final stages of the European Championships and the World Cup, believes that all four Home Countries should be allowed to take part in London 2012, as happened when the capital staged the Games in 1908.

 

He said: "If they are going to have England play, why not have us all.

 

"It is the only discriminatory sport in the Olympics anyway, as it discriminates on age.

 

"What we don't want is a combined GB team which would jeopardise the autonomy of the other three Home Countries."

 

Meanwhile, a member of the Scottish Parliament today demanded the removal of SFA chief executive Gordon Smith following the decision.

 

Scottish National Party member Christine Grahame, who chairs the Parliament's Health and Sport Committee, accused the SFA of caving in over the issue.

 

She said: "A GB football team competing at the London 2012 Olympics poses a direct threat to the future of the Scotland international side and the Scottish league set-up.

 

"Even Sepp Blatter, the President of Fifa, has made it clear that Scottish football is under threat if a GB team is fielded at the Olympics, regardless of where the players come from.

 

"I have warned of the dangers of this proposal and asked repeatedly to meet with Gordon Smith to discuss this matter.

 

"This has been met with silence.

 

"I suspect that the position being taken now by Smith (pictured) reinforces the one he took before he became SFA chief executive.

 

"In 2007, Smith was interviewed by the BBC and said that he had 'no problem' with a GB football team being fielded in the Olympics.

 

"It now looks like his personal opinion has become SFA policy, despite the overwhelming opposition of Scotland fans and players.

 

"Smith should do the only honourable thing left to him and resign, and if he doesn't go voluntarily he should be forced to quit."

 

The SFA declined to comment on Grahame's statement, which contrasted sharply with the reaction of another member of her own party.

 

The SNP's Culture and Sport spokesperson Pete Wishart, who led a debate in Westminster on the issue, said: "The SFA are absolutely right to have nothing to do with plans for a team GB, and fans across the country will be cheering this move.

 

"This debate has always been about protecting the future of our national teams, and safeguarding Scotland's long-term ability to compete in international football.

 

"Cut and shut plans for a Team GB threatened our football future, and I am delighted that this meddling has been given the red card.

 

"We must allow no precedent that could be used against us in the future, and no reason or argument given by Gordon Brown and those others who were pushing to change the status quo has addressed that.

 

"The political interference in this decision has been disgraceful, and I hope the SFA's move will blow the final whistle on plans on any Scottish participation."

 

But Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said he was disappointed that players outside England would not be given the chance to take part in the biggest event ever to be held in Britian.

 

He said: "I am disappointed about it because I think it would have been a great opportunity for young players under 23 to experience playing in our great arenas at the Olympics.

 

"The least I would have expected would be for our association to have allowed that to have happened without any suggestion of any penalty.

 

"It would have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the players."

 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the selection of players for a British team would rest with the British Olympic Association.

 

Sandrine Tonge, the IOC's spokeswoman, said: "Whether or not Britain has a football team competing at the 2012 Games is a decision that needs to be worked out between the Home Associations, the British Olympic Association and FIFA.

"We look forward to being informed in due course by FIFA and the BOA of the final outcome of their discussions."