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18:02 GMT, Friday, 25 July 2008 19:02 UK

Ferguson not keen on London role

Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson says he is unlikely to take charge of a Great Britain football team at the London Olympics.

London 2012 Organising Committee chairman Lord Coe told BBC 5 Live he had discussed the matter with the Manchester United boss.

But Ferguson said: "I will be 70 in 2012. I've not made any commitment to anything like that.

"I would not, in any way, shape or form, try and commit myself to something that is four years ahead."

Coe believes Ferguson, who plans to leave his Old Trafford post in the next three years, is the ideal candidate to lead the British side in London.

"I would love to have him there because he is a phenomenal coach and a great man manager," he said.

606: DEBATE
Would you like to see Sir Alex lead a GB team at the Olympics?
"Who else would you want to have that mentoring role?

"We have had a few conversations, but I stress that it is for the British Olympic Association and the Football Association to make that judgement and I leave it with them."

The inclusion of a Great Britain football team at the London Games has sparked huge controversy, with the FAs of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland concerned it may compromise their individual status within Fifa.

President of football's world governing body, Sepp Blatter, has said it would be better for GB to enter a team featuring players from just England to avoid such a scenario.

But as it is the BOA which selects teams for the Games, it has decided to press ahead with plans to include a football team despite the opposition.



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Related to this story:

Beijing Olympics on the BBC (25 Jul 08 |  Olympics )
Blatter against British 2012 team (09 Mar 08 |  Football )
Government backs GB football team (04 Mar 08 |  Football )
Home nations dispute GB 2012 team (30 Oct 07 |  Football )
GB football team to enter Games (30 Sep 06 |  Football )
Coe hopeful on GB football team (12 Dec 05 |  Internationals )
Fifa green light for 2012 GB team (01 Sep 05 |  Football )
Premier League backs 2012 GB team (20 Jul 05 |  Olympics 2012 )
FA wants GB team in 2012 Olympics (06 Jul 05 |  Olympics 2012 )

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