The Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales could bid to host the European Championship Finals in 2008. Following the lead of Holland and Belgium, who will co-host this year's competition, the Celtic cousins could host the competition if the FAI have Eircom Park built in time. This is not a sure thing as they proposed project runs into new stumbling blocks every day.

The idea will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the British home countries committee next month. Wales FA general secretary David Collins pointed to the success of the recent Rugby Union World Cup to underline that the logistics are very possible.

He said: "That tournament was held in part in Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin, and the travelling was not out of the question.

"A tournament could be held in these four cities, a group stage in each with the opening game say in Cardiff and the final at Hampden Park.

"I don't think we would be arguing about where the final was if we managed to get such a bid off the ground!

"We obviously have the Millennium Stadium, and by 2008 there is expected to be a 25,000-plus new stadium in Swansea that could be easily upgraded.

"In Dublin they have Lansdowne Road and Croke Park and maybe a new national stadium by then, while Glasgow has three fine stadiums at Ibrox, Celtic Park and Hampden.

"If the rugby people wanted to get on board then Murrayfield could be used in Edinburgh. That gives us around nine grounds already that easily meet the UEFA criteria."

The FAI discussed the subject with their Scottish counterparts before their Dublin friendly between the two countries last week.

This was confirmed initially by Scottish FA chief executive David Taylor, who said: "When we were in Dublin, Irish officials broached the subject of the Celtic nations co-hosting the European Championships in 2008."