Lord Moynihan: Ambitious plans

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The British Olympic Association (BOA) insist that Great Britain will field a football team at the games in 2012.

With London set to host the event in four years' time the idea of fielding a side made up of players from the four home nations has been touted for some time.

Now Lord Moynihan, chairman of the BOA, has pledged to make the concept a reality.

"The impact of a British team on the public and their support of the Games will be enormous," he said in the Daily Mail.

"We would also expect that team to be a strong medal contender and thereby generate tremendous excitement throughout the country.

"We must have a team in these Games and we will have a team."

Lord Moynihan is likely to face opposition from the governing bodies for football in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the proposed plans, as they are concerned that the idea will ultimately lead to a combined side being entered in other international competitions - such as the World Cup.

Manager

However, the Olympic Committee have made it clear that they would have no qualms about fielding a side made up entirely of English players should the other home nations refuse to participate.

Should that situation arise then any plans to install Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson as coach would be severely hindered.

The veteran Red Devils manager is the top choice to lead the side, with Moynihan admitting that he is keen to appoint a world-class candidate.

"We would want the most highly-qualified man for that job so obviously I would support Fergie as well as considering, of course, any English manager the FA might put forward who had comparable credentials," he said.

Britain have not entered a team in the Olympic football tournament since 1972, but did win gold in the event at the 1900 games in Paris, 1908 in London and 1912 in Stockholm.