Dalglish: Support for bid (MichaelSteele/Allsport)

The SFA chief executive was in the capital of the Republic yesterday morning for an unheralded meeting with the Football Association of Ireland hierarchy on a potential partnership in the attempt to lure the European Championship Finals to these shores.

Taylor's talk-in with the likes of FAI counterpart Brendan O'Byrne came after Soccernet revealed yesterday that there is substantial commercial backing available for a Euro 2008 bid by Scottish companies.

Former Scotland stars Ally McCoist and Kenny Dalglish are ready to lend their international profiles to the project, with the SFA and the Scottish

Executive awaiting the results of an independent feasability study. Dublin is ready to offer Scotland two or maybe even three 30,000-plus seater venues with four required to supplement Hampden, Celtic Park, Ibrox and Murrayfield.

Cardiff' s Millennium Stadium is also very much involved in the pre-bid negotiations. Linking hands with Ireland and Wales might remove the clear stumbling block of building expensive new stadia in Aberdeen, Dundee or Edinburgh which would otherwise be white elephants.

And, although plans remain at an early stage, it is apparent that a Celtic Nations bid involving Dublin and Cardiff is moving up the Hampden agenda. 'Let's just say we are now in close negotations with the SFA over this, although there's nothing concrete yet,' said FAI President Pat Quigley last night.

'We have recently turned down the Eircom Park plan for our own stadium because the price had gone too high and have instead gone into partnership with the Irish Government for an 80,000 ground which will be ready by 2005.

'Lansdowne Road remains in the ownership of the Irish Rugby Union and could be used for a joint bid. 'And a vote last week by the Gaelic Football authorities only passed by one their ban on other sports using Croke Park. That is a situation which could well change in the next couple of years.