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O'Connor explains Scotland snub O'Connor family heartache claims
(1 day later)
Scotland striker Garry O'Connor has explained that domestic problems were the reason behind his failure to appear for the match against Ukraine. The saga of Garry O'Connor's decision not to travel to Ukraine took a new twist with claims of a relative's suicide bid.
O'Connor, 23, who plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, failed to show as the Scotland squad reassembled after beating France. The Sunday Mail newspaper has claimed that the Scotland striker walked out on manager Walter Smith's squad after a close relative tried to kill herself.
"Some problems came up with my wife Lisa, who is having serious difficulty adapting to life in Moscow," he told Russian newspaper Sport Express. O'Connor's mother, Judy, said: "He would not miss a flight for no reason - so people should stop sniping."
But manager Walter Smith said that he had still not heard from O'Connor. The star failed to show as the squad reassembled after beating France.
"As far as I am aware there has been no explanation given from O'Connor or from his representative," said Smith. O'Connor had left Smith fuming after the former Hibernian striker, who now plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, left it to his agent to call the Scottish FA's national team administrator to say he would not be travelling.
"The last time we heard anything was when his agent called the SFA's national team administrator Richard Simpson on Sunday to inform him that he didn't know where the player was or what was wrong with him." But, after Scotland's 2-0 defeat, O'Connor told Russian newspaper Sport Express: "Some problems came up with my wife Lisa, who is having serious difficulty adapting to life in Moscow.
O'Connor made the move to the Russian capital in a £1.6m from Hibernian in March.
Family for me comes above all else. In my view this is a mountain out of a molehill Garry O'ConnorFamily for me comes above all else. In my view this is a mountain out of a molehill Garry O'Connor
His failure to appear ahead of the match against the Ukraine, which Scotland lost 2-0, angered national team manager Walter Smith. "I considered it important to stay with her for two or three days and asked manager Walter Smith to let me go.
But O'Connor added: "I considered it important to stay with her for two or three days and asked manager Walter Smith to let me go. "My wife grew up in the countryside and therefore, at present, she is finding it very difficult to adapt to such a huge city like Moscow.
"My wife grew up in the countryside, and therefore at present she is finding it very difficult to adapt to such a huge city like Moscow.
"I am always on the move, and she has to spend a lot of time alone with our son Josh. Lisa doesn't have many permanent friends here and it's boring for her."I am always on the move, and she has to spend a lot of time alone with our son Josh. Lisa doesn't have many permanent friends here and it's boring for her.
"Family for me comes above all else. In my view it's a mountain out of a molehill." "Family for me comes above all else. In my view, it's a mountain out of a molehill."
And the striker denied that he is unhappy in Russia and wants to return to the British game. O'Connor made the move to the Russian capital in a £1.6m from Easter Road in March.
But the striker denied that he is unhappy in Russia and wants to return to the British game.
"I never said I wanted to leave Lokomotiv. I am fully determined to show everything I am capable of in the remaining matches and to help Loko win the title," he added."I never said I wanted to leave Lokomotiv. I am fully determined to show everything I am capable of in the remaining matches and to help Loko win the title," he added.
"I am not looking for anything better when I have it good here. So at the moment I don't want to leave Lokomotiv for another club.""I am not looking for anything better when I have it good here. So at the moment I don't want to leave Lokomotiv for another club."