Ireland are ready to throw their weight behind Scotland's bid to host the European Championships in 2008.
Scotland's First Minister Henry McLeish and Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor teamed up at Hampden Park yesterday to unveil plans to persuade UEFA to let them host the prestigious tournament.
However, the Scots will need six stadia with all-seater capacity above 30,000 and currently have only four, so have not ruled out a joint bid with either Ireland or Wales.
FAI president Pat Quigley wants the Scots to opt for a `pan-Celtic games' by offering Ireland a role to play, and said the countries' respective football associations were set to enter the next round of ongoing discussions soon.
Ireland would be likely to play a supporting role to Scotland if a joint bid did get the go-ahead. Quigley said: "We will be rooting for four or five games, maybe some first round matches and a semi-final. I'm sure the final would be played in Scotland, but with an 80,000 national stadium here by then there is no reason why it could not be in Ireland."
Former Manchester United star Eric Cantona has been handed the chance to play a part in the club once again after he accepted an offer to coach the Old Trafford youth side.
Cantona, who played at United between 1992 and 1997 and helped Alex Ferguson's side to their first league title in 26 years, will return to United as of next season as the club's youth coach on a casual basis.
Ferguson said: "Eric wants to get back into the game so we've given him the opportunity to help coach the young players at the start of next season. It's not an appointment but a casual arrangement to allow Eric to gain some experience of coaching."
Meanwhile, Phil Neville has signed a six-year contract worth £35,000 a week at United.
Southampton are preparing to offer David Moyes his chance to take charge of a Premiership club in a move that could be the catalyst for Joe Royle's swift return to management at Preston North End.
Steve Bruce's defection to Crystal Palace has led to Royle being linked with the job at Wigan, but the former Manchester City manager is waiting for Moyes to decide his future after missing out on promotion to the top flight.
Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe last night confirmed that Moyes figured on a shortlist that also includes Nottingham Forest's David Platt and Brighton's Micky Adams. The caretaker Stuart Gray has been ruled out but will have a coaching position next season.
Royle, in the meantime, will have preliminary talks with Wigan about the position vacated by Bruce, who will be unveiled at Palace today.
Sol Campbell is keen to begin discussions with Liverpool after turning down a new contract at Tottenham. "Sol is ready to talk to Liverpool about a possible move," said the defender's agent. "Discussions are at an early stage but money at this stage is not an issue. Sol has already spoken to Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid so he has options. At this stage he would like to stay in England."
Aston Villa have made an improved offer for West Ham's Frank Lampard, believed to be worth £9 million. Blackburn are interested in signing the Everton defender Michael Ball.
Leeds have dropped their appeal against Lee Bowyer's ban for stamping on Valencia's Juan Sanchez after being warned that it could be extended on appeal. The midfielder will miss the first two matches of next season's Uefa Cup.
Des Walker is to leave Sheffield Wednesday, who cannot afford to renew his contract.
Dutch national team captain Frank de Boer says he is prepared to take whatever action is necessary to prove his innocence after his B-sample confirmed a positive test for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.
Barcelona president Joan Gaspart backed the player, who is in his third season at the club, and said he would consider taking legal action against UEFA if De Boer received a ban.
De Boer said: "I do not want to be given this tag when I know that I have never taken any drugs and it has never even entered my head to take any." And he got the backing of Gaspart who added: "The club will not leave him on his own and could even sue UEFA for damages.
