Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has revealed he is ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement for Great Britain to enter a team for the 2012 Olympics.
The FA have been keen to see a GB team entered for the games in London but their plans have been undermined by reluctance from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“I am happy to say that although the job is not 100 percent done, I’m very close to getting agreement with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to ensure we compete in the 2012 Olympics, both women’s and men’s teams,” Triesman told the Guardian.
“I think it would have been extraordinary to have hosted a tournament as great as the Olympic Games and not have competed, so I’m very pleased with the work we’ve been able to do and I hope within a day or two to be able to confirm that the whole of that is done.”
The Scottish FA are ‘extremely disappointed’ that Triesman went public with this news before the proposal could be put to its board.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a coaching role for 2012 should a GB team take the field.