December 14.

James Traynor confirms all that East of Scotland football fans feel

about Glasgow bias with his article on team selection for the coming

international with Greece (December 12).

If, as he claims, ''there is little logic in calling in Hibernian's

(Gordon) Hunter, who has no pedigree at international level'' for the

match, the responsibility for that unhappy situation lies at the door of

Craig Brown's predecessor, Andy Roxburgh.

Hunter has been one of the best defenders in the country for more

seasons than I care to remember and it must have been galling for the

player to see lesser lights capped in the past when he was excluded.

If anything defies logic, it is James Traynor's contention that

Richard Gough should return to the squad. If his own reports over the

years are to be believed, the breach between the Rangers player and the

Scotland manager is probably unbridgeable and the last thing the

national team needs going into such a vital international is a strained

atmosphere in the camp.

I know I am not alone in believing it has long been the case that

playing in a blue or green-and-white hooped jersey allows often mediocre

players to leapfrog their way to caps over more able footballers who

wear other colours.

Pat McGinlay put his finger on it shortly after his transfer from Hibs

to Celtic when he was pressured to accept a Scotland call-up while his

ancestry was being tracked by Ireland's Jack Charlton, commenting:

''No-one spoke about me playing for Scotland when I was scoring 15 goals

a season for Hibs.''

Craig Brown may have his critics, but credit to him for looking

outside the Old Firm.

Michael Delaney,

6 Meadowbank Crescent,

Edinburgh.