Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has vowed to block all Scotland internationals and players registered to the SFA from competing in the Games in 2012.

The Irish, Scottish and Welsh national associations have raised concern about the possibility of losing their separate identities in the eyes of world governing body FIFA, and the British team could be all-English unless there is a change in attitudes.

The British Olympic Association are set to press ahead with plans for men's and women's teams after receiving encouragement from the International Olympic Committee, and former Scotland boss Walter Smith insists Scots would want to be involved.

Asked about Scottish players' involvement, the Rangers manager said: "It depends if anyone gets picked!"

He added: "The Olympics is the biggest athletics tournament on the planet. If they have football involved, and we have a British team, I'm sure there will be a Scottish contingent, as there will be from Wales and Northern Ireland.

"I don't see any great problem with it unless it comes within the fixtures list and there are one or two problems with that.

"But I'm sure that any player would be delighted to be picked and asked to play in the Olympics. It's a big thing for anyone.

"It's so unusual for professional footballers to get asked to play in a tournament like that and I'm sure they would enjoy it."

The SFA opposition is based on the fear that Scotland could lose their separate nation status with FIFA, and Gordon Smith told BBC1: "Some people could argue that our autonomy could be questioned if we are part of a British team."

When asked about such comments, the Rangers manager said: "That takes it onto the footballing aspect again.

"I would put the Olympics as a separate aspect but I can appreciate the thoughts from both. That's for other people to get involved in - I'm only a football manager!"

Rangers defender Ugo Ehiogu also came out in favour of a Great Britain team, saying: "For the Olympics, once every four years, it would be a nice to see a British team.

"Then you are going to have the debate over who will manage it and which players should be playing from certain countries.

"But I would like to see it because there are a lot of good players from the different home nations and it would be nice to see what sort of team they could make."

Asked about the fear of respective countries losing their national identities as part of a British team, the former England defender added: "Not if it's once every four years.

"I know you guys are very patriotic up here, as well as the Welsh, Irish and English, everyone is very patriotic. You couldn't lose the identity of the home nations."

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan declined to discuss the issue at his team's press conference ahead of tomorrow's League Cup clash with Motherwell.

But Hoops and Scotland midfielder Scott Brown did not rule out playing for a GB Olympic side.

"If they offered then I would listen to it, I'd listen to every offer," he said. "But until it happens I won't think about it."

Amid suggestions some clubs might not put their players forward, Brown said: "It's up to the manager and to Alex McLeish if he wants to put us forward."