Ferguson: Approached by Coe

I know Sir Alex Ferguson has been approached by Seb Coe.

Gordon Brown on Ferguson coaching team GB at 2012
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

• Manchester United

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Transfer Centre
• Super 6: Win £100k

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been approached as the man to coach an all-British football team at the 2012 Olympics.

With England's capital London staging the prestigious Games in four years' time, their organising committee are keen for the host nation to have a presence in the football competition.

Brown has confirmed talks are underway to discuss the possibility of a Great Britain football team in 2012, which would be the first time a composite British squad will have entered the Games since 1960, with possibly Sir Alex at the helm.

Informal talks

Lord Sebastian Coe has held informal talks with Ferguson over the role, although Brown has confirmed an official approach would need to be made should the GB football team be given the green light.

Premier Leaguer duties are unlikely to be an obstacle for Ferguson as he is widely expected to retire as boss at Old Trafford at the end of this season or the next - a minimum of two years before the tournament.

"When the Olympics are held in Britain and there's a football tournament where the final is going to be in Britain they want us to have a team in the competition," Brown told Sky Sports News.

"At the moment in Beijing we don't have a team. No men's team and no women's team. When it comes to London I think it's important that there is a team.

Talks with Fifa

"So I've been talking to Fifa, The Football Association and Sepp Blatter and he's going to try and make it possible for us to have a team at the Olympics.

"Then we'll talk to the other football associations and we'll see who wants to be part of this and maybe we'll get a manager that everybody is happy with.

"I know Sir Alex Ferguson has been approached by Seb Coe. These are things that are possible. Alex Ferguson has got to be formally approached of course."