Rangers striker Boyd dramatically announced last October he would not play for Scotland again while George Burley remained the manager.

The move angered both Burley and Smith, with the SFA chief urging Boyd, 25, to change his mind and apologise.

Since quitting the international stage, Boyd has been in sensational goalscoring form, netting 18 times in his last 16 Rangers appearances.

Burley hinted earlier this month he would consider picking the striker if Boyd made himself available again, but the Scotland boss told PA Sport this week he was only concentrating on the players currently at his disposal.

Smith, himself a former Rangers forward, insists he appreciates Boyd's frustration at being repeatedly snubbed by Burley since the former Ipswich and Hearts boss took charge a year ago tomorrow.

But the SFA chief was adamant the player's reaction to being left on the bench in October's goalless World Cup qualifying draw against Norway was unacceptable.

"I think he left because he was a bit upset about not being put on the field," Smith said in a wide-ranging interview with BBC ALBA's Spòrs programme.

"And, to a certain degree, there was a case for saying if you're struggling for a goal and your top scorer is sitting on the bench, put him on. I could understand to a certain degree he was upset.

"I was not too pleased that he walked out and he made it very clear that it was because of the manager and if it was a different manager in charge, he would come back.

"I think that should be sorted out. I'd like to see Kris Boyd change his mind on it, but if he doesn't, we just have to get on with it."

Smith also rubbished suggestions Boyd was not the only player who had a problem with Burley and that some had exaggerated injuries to get out of international duty.

He said: "A lot of people say about people not being available, not turning up for matches, injuries.

"Our medical staff check everybody out and they know, when somebody's allowed to leave the squad, they're genuine cases of injury.

"No-one is allowed to leave the squad on the basis of made-up injuries."

Smith remains confident Burley will lead Scotland to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Four points from three Group Nine games so far has been enough to hold second place in the table.

Smith concedes Holland will probably finish top and he knows a better return is needed if Scotland are to secure one of the eight play-off places at the end of the campaign.

"I still think that we'll achieve second place in the group at worst," he said.

"If we do achieve second place, hopefully it's a second place that puts us into a play-off, and then anything can happen.

"I'm positive about second place and I'm positive we can win it (the play-off)."

Smith also reiterated his opposition to a Great Britain football team competing at the 2012 Olympics, explaining he felt it could lead to the demise of the Home Nations.

He went further by saying football should not be an Olympic sport.

He added: "The Olympics should be the pinnacle of any sporting event and that certainly isn't the case for football.

"You could argue the same for tennis because that's not the pinnacle of tennis to win the Olympics.

"It also an under-23 event, which means it's a discriminatory event.

"There's no other Olympics event that's got anything to do with age. Football's the only one.

"Why's it not an event for left-footed players or players who are 5ft 6in?"

Despite not wanting to merge with England, even on a temporary basis, Smith remains determined to revive the annual fixture between the two countries.

He revealed there had even been an agreement for a match at Wembley last May but that Celtic and Rangers would not make their players available as they had tours planned.

Smith cancelled the game and was upset when it emerged the Old Firm were not going to tour after all.

"We were disappointed with that because we had resurrected the game and now it's difficult to fit in," he said.

"We are in discussions with England and, going forward, we will be speaking again about getting a Scotland-England game together."

:: The first part of Gordon Smith's interview will be broadcast during BBC ALBA's Spòrs between 8-10pm tomorrow and part two will be broadcast the following Saturday. BBC ALBA is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110.