The Republic of Ireland's prospects of jointly hosting the 2008 European Championships with Scotland now look doubtful. The organisers of Scotland's bid need the Government to clarify their backing for £80m-worth of ground improvement plans. UEFA require at least eight 30,000-capacity all-seater stadia, but Scotland currently only has four, including the Murrayfield rugby stadium.
The Scots' plan to link up with the Republic of Ireland was only a contingency plan. The Scottish bidders say that a solo bid for the championships would have much more success that a joint one with Ireland. The Scots had planned to bring the Irish on board because they do not have enough stadia to meet UEFA criteria.
Plans for new stadia at Aberdeen and Dundee have already been officially endorsed. Proposals to upgrade Hibernian's and Kilmarnock's grounds would bring the total up to the required eight.
A spokesman said that Scotland are more likely to submit a solo bid as the Executive delays its decision. "Ideally we wanted a decision at the start of January. The longer it takes then the more likely it is to be a solo bid. It would certainly be more difficult to fit Ireland in. We are already down a critical path. It would be a tight window although both are economically viable," said Simon Lyons.
Scotland's 2008 rivals are a four-nation Scandinavian alliance, Hungary and joint ventures between Austria and Switzerland, Turkey and Greece and Bosnia and Croatia.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
