Celtic Cup get's the green light
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THE proposed Celtic Cup tournament involving Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland looks certain to commence in 2009, with a television contract worth an estimated £2 million to each of the participating associations. Howard Wells, the chief executive of the Irish FA, will host a meeting in Belfast next month at which it is expected the new competition will be formally agreed. The four teams will play each other on a round-robin basis, with the matches scheduled on specified international friendly dates in years when there are no World Cup or European Championship finals. "There are still a few issues to be resolved," said Wells, "and Scotland have been a bit late to the party with David Taylor leaving and Gordon Smith coming on board as chief executive. But we have another meeting planned next month and the hope is to start in 2009 and play it every two years. "We believe it is a more meaningful use of friendly dates. It also gives the four countries involved a more meaningful follow-up year if we don't qualify for the major tournament finals. Let's be realistic, the 2010 World Cup is going to be even more difficult for us to qualify for with only 13 European countries going through. "So the more we can do to make the domestic international scene more exciting, the better it is going to be. We feel it will be an attractive tournament for spectators and we alreadyhave firm television interest. We are in discussion with them on the financial side and there is definitely an appetite to do it." England have declined to take part in any home nations tournament, although FA chief executive Brian Barwick, pictured, is keen to reschedule the friendly with Scotland at Wembley which had been pencilled in for 28 May this year. Scotland pulled out of the fixture as new manager George Burley was concerned he would have a weakened squad available to him at that stage of the season. "We wanted to play Scotland and expected to do so on 28 May," said Barwick. "Everyone was excited about it. I had explained the history of the fixture to our manager Fabio Capello and he was solidly behind playing the game. "Unfortunately it didn't happen this time, but I do think there is an appetite for it at the FA and hopefully it can happen in the future." |
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