Scots Euro 2008 bid gathers pace

Hampden could be one of the Euro 2008 venues

Scottish football chiefs have declared their intention to bid for the 2008 European Championships.

First Minister Henry McLeish and Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor unveiled plans which could be used to persuade Uefa to let them host the prestigious tournament.

Although no firm decision to make a bid has yet been made, the two bodies have joined forces to set up a dedicated project team to formulate a bid.

That team must provide solutions to a number of problems, the most important being the need for two extra 30,000-seater stadia - which would cost approximately £40m.

I think it is in our best interests to do it by ourselves if we possibly can.

SFA president Jack McGinn

And while the Scots are keen to go it alone, that keeps the door open for a joint bid with either Ireland or Wales.

Scotland already has three world class football stadiums - Hampden, Parkhead and Ibrox, all in Glasgow.

Assuming that Scotland's home of rugby, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, is also made available for such a bid, improvements will have to be made elsewhere.

Aberdeen have already suggested that they would be willing to move to a new home in order to support Scotland's chances.

Scotland faces opposition to the bid

On Wednesday, Mr Taylor said: "Subject to the caveats of the bidding criteria and finding the right support from the government, we would wish to bid for these championships in 2008."

Mr McLeish said: "We are one of the great football loving nations in the world, we have the best fans in the world, so wouldn't it be a rich prize for these fans to see, on their home ground, the best the world has to offer?

"It is a question of self belief, it is a question of confidence in what we are doing.

"I think the feasibility study has been excellent, but now the hard work must begin to take this matter forward."

SFA president Jack McGinn added: "I think it is in our best interests to do it by ourselves if we possibly can."

Boost to the economy

The Scots are likely to be up against a joint Austria-Switzerland bid and a similar set up between Greece and Turkey, with Russia also believed to be interested.

A final decision on whether to go ahead is expected by November, and any bid must be lodged by next May.

The chairman of the Scottish Premier League, Lex Gold, told BBC Scotland that the championships would be a "good thing" on two fronts.

He said: "It would be a boost to the economy, were it to go ahead, and I think that is what the consultants' study will show.

"And I think it will also be good in the footballing sense, because it will raise the profile of Scotland and give it a European stage."