SFA announce Four Nations Tournament to go ahead

The Scottish Football Association have announced that a Four Nations Tournament involving Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could start in 2011, following talks involving each national association.

Two matches will be played on each match-day, under the plans supported by each of the four national associations.

With the 2010 World Cup qualifiers already in place, there was little prospect of the tournament beginning until 2011 for practical reasons.

Although 2011 has not been inked in as a definite start date, there is enthusiasm on the part of each nation to launch the competition.

It was hoped England would also be involved, however they do not feature in the latest plans.

England competed in the Home Nations Championship which was abolished in 1984, on the 100th anniversary of the tournament which initially also involved Scotland, Wales and an Ireland team. The Ireland side were replaced by Northern Ireland in 1951.