Scottish minister expresses Euro bid fears

Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell fears the Scotland/Ireland bid for the European Championships in 2008 may already have been scuppered.

The Gaelic countries were joint favourites to secure the tournament along with the Austria/Switzerland bid.

But the First Minister is concerned UEFA may already have decided the winners ahead of the final announcement on December 13.

McConnell told the Sunday Herald: “The Austrians and the Swiss, right in the centre of Europe, have never had a major championships before.

“You don’t know what promises have been made to them in the last couple of years.

“You don’t know what deals have been done. So you don’t take anything for granted.

“But I have got a very strong impression from the key figures of UEFA that they will make this decision in the interests of football.

“They are worried about football. Just as worried as the Premier League chairmen are, for example.

“The future of the game in medium-sized countries is concerning them. The final vote is in December. I’ll not sleep much that night.

“But even if we don’t get it, we’ll know we’ll have put everything into it.

“We couldn’t be doing more to make sure we win this. We’re going to have an excellent bid.

“Technically, it’ll be absolutely right, we’ve got all the passion behind it with the fans, all the arguments thought through, we”ll have provided all the back-up and promises that are necessary.

“If we don’t win it, it will because someone, somewhere decided it was someone else’s turn and maybe decided that two years ago.”

The Scottish/Irish bid will be examined by UEFA inspectors next month but their closest rivals have already issued a warning as the European governing body team visit Austria and Switzerland.

Parkhead, Ibrox, Murrayfield and Hampden Park have all been selected for the Scots-Irish bid but there is still a question mark over the Irish stadia and where the other two grounds in Scotland should be built.

Bid organisers insist they do not need to rush into having as final decision.

But project manager for the Austrian and Swiss team, Thomas Helbling, believes they can take advantage of that uncertainty after Portugal looked to be behind schedule on their stadia after being awarded the 2004 tournament.

The Portuguese have now caught up with their schedule but Helbling maintains the Austrian-Swiss bid has the upper hand.

Helbling said: “It was clear from the beginning the group would come and double check everything.

“They could smell the paint of new stadiums and hear the noise of hammers on the others where work is already under way and that made a big impression.

“Compared to other candidates who have not yet decided their options we believe that will be looked at favourably.

“The uncertainty of not knowing where the stadiums will be located does not necessarily ruin a bid – but it doesn’t help after what happened in Portugal.

“What UEFA saw there has caused them to ask that all grounds are now ready at least a year-and-a-half before the tournament is due to start. Ours will be completed by September 2006.

“I know the Scottish and Irish bid well and it’s a strong one. But we don’t fear anyone.

“We have a great deal already in place and are probably the benchmark.”