FAI ready to join Scottish bid

The FAI yesterday confirmed that it is ready to play a part in hosting the 2008 European Championships if Scotland, who are bidding for the tournament, decide that they want a partner.

The association's general secretary, Brendan Menton, described yesterday's meeting with representatives of the Scottish FA and Assembly as having gone very well and said that the decision on whether to proceed with a joint bid now rested with Scotland who will meet in early January to clarify the issue.

As things stand Scotland have lodged alternative bids with UEFA, one involves the Irish while the other is a solo bid. Under the Irish plan one of the competition's four groups would be staged in Dublin with a couple of knockout phase matches also taking place here - a total of eight or nine matches in all.

"It's their decision to take," said Menton, "but if they do decide that they want a partner then we'll be very supportive. We'd get a quarter of the tournament and possibly a semi-final but all of that is very premature, if they do decide they want us involved then we can start working out the details."

Menton, who says that the FAI had previously been more inclined to see a 2008 bid as a dry run for an attempt to host the competition four years later admitted that he had been won over by the arguments put to him yesterday regarding the earlier date. "They put a strong case for 2008 and why it would work," he said, "and I think that in the end we found what they said to be very persuasive."

He also admitted that the prospect of resolving the ongoing issue of the national stadium made a joint bid more attractive to the association. "It would certainly be helpful," he said before confirming that the FAI's intention would be to host games at a revamped Lansdowne Road and newly constructed Stadium Ireland in the event that the scheme does go ahead.

If the Scots do decide to involve the Irish in their plans then the target would be to put together the key elements of their bid document by next May.

That, however, may look like an ambitious target when so little of the infrastructure is in place here and the FAI are slightly preoccupied with their preparations for next summer's World Cup finals.

The need for eight stadiums remains a major barrier to the Scots going it alone, though, as only four are currently up to the standard required and there seems to be no enthusiasm on the Government's part for providing the funds required to build or improve as many again.

The FAI, meanwhile, expressed confidence that talks with Mick McCarthy and Ian Evans over new contracts will be concluded soon.

Menton met their representatives last night and said the talks continued to progress well but those close to McCarthy insist that he will not finalise his new deal until Evans's terms have been agreed.

"Both deals are being discussed in the same talks," maintained Menton yesterday, though, "and, in due course, both will be finalised at the same time."