Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has revealed he was disappointed when England declined the chance to participate in a revived version of the Home Internationals.
From 2011 a biannual tournament involving Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is set to become a fixture on the football calendar.
Smith wanted England involved, but received indications from the Football Association that they are seeking a higher class of opponent for non-World Cup and European Championship matches.
"England have been approached," said Smith. "England have made it clear they don't want to be part of this kind of tournament now.
"They maybe see themselves as being a bigger nation and going for bigger friendlies, more high-profile friendlies.
"We would have liked England to be involved."
Although the competition has been announced under the 'Four Nations' banner, Smith stressed it could become a sponsored event.
He said: "We haven't got an actual name for it yet. That might depend on if a sponsor comes in."
Each country will be hoping the four-team tournament proves a money-spinner and adds a competitive edge to matches outside the World Cup and European Championship.
Since the Home Internationals were abolished in 1984, 100 years after they were first contested, Northern Ireland and Wales have failed to qualify for any major summer tournament.
Recently the Republic of Ireland and Scotland have also struggled to make an impact.
Despite England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, the FA are hoping Fabio Capello's team will be competing for the game's biggest prizes, starting from the next World Cup.
The 'four nations' will proceed without them, and Smith told BBC Radio Scotland: "We're looking at having a tournament where we all play each other, so it's three games, and we're looking at having one game in February and two in May to tie up the tournament and have a winner established."
Each championship will have a host team, who will change on a rotational basis, and all matches will take place in their country.
Fixtures already in place for the next two and a half years prevented the tournament being added to the international schedule with immediate effect, or from next year.
With the 2010 World Cup qualifiers already fixed in place on the calendar, there was little prospect of the tournament beginning until after the tournament in South Africa for practical reasons.
Although 2011 has not been inked in as a definite starting point for the Four Nations, it is highly likely to begin then.
The Home Internationals latterly involved England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who in 1951 replaced the Ireland team which was selected from players from the north and south.
Scotland's sports minister Stewart Maxwell gave the plans his full backing and predicted a tournament involving all four countries would be well received.
He said: "I am sure all Scottish football fans will be encouraged to see that plans for a four nations tournament are moving forward positively."
Smith wanted England involved, but received indications from the Football Association that they are seeking a higher class of opponent for non-World Cup and European Championship matches.
"England have been approached," said Smith. "England have made it clear they don't want to be part of this kind of tournament now.
"They maybe see themselves as being a bigger nation and going for bigger friendlies, more high-profile friendlies.
"We would have liked England to be involved."
Although the competition has been announced under the 'Four Nations' banner, Smith stressed it could become a sponsored event.
He said: "We haven't got an actual name for it yet. That might depend on if a sponsor comes in."
Each country will be hoping the four-team tournament proves a money-spinner and adds a competitive edge to matches outside the World Cup and European Championship.
Since the Home Internationals were abolished in 1984, 100 years after they were first contested, Northern Ireland and Wales have failed to qualify for any major summer tournament.
Recently the Republic of Ireland and Scotland have also struggled to make an impact.
Despite England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, the FA are hoping Fabio Capello's team will be competing for the game's biggest prizes, starting from the next World Cup.
The 'four nations' will proceed without them, and Smith told BBC Radio Scotland: "We're looking at having a tournament where we all play each other, so it's three games, and we're looking at having one game in February and two in May to tie up the tournament and have a winner established."
Each championship will have a host team, who will change on a rotational basis, and all matches will take place in their country.
Fixtures already in place for the next two and a half years prevented the tournament being added to the international schedule with immediate effect, or from next year.
With the 2010 World Cup qualifiers already fixed in place on the calendar, there was little prospect of the tournament beginning until after the tournament in South Africa for practical reasons.
Although 2011 has not been inked in as a definite starting point for the Four Nations, it is highly likely to begin then.
The Home Internationals latterly involved England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who in 1951 replaced the Ireland team which was selected from players from the north and south.
Scotland's sports minister Stewart Maxwell gave the plans his full backing and predicted a tournament involving all four countries would be well received.
He said: "I am sure all Scottish football fans will be encouraged to see that plans for a four nations tournament are moving forward positively."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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