The orchestrator of proposals for a North Sea League Cup last night launched an offensive on the project's critics by unveiling plans for summit talks on the issue next month.
Former Belgium goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme, now the general manager of Standard Liege, is working closely with top European sports lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont on a blueprint for a post-Christmas tournament to begin in 2004 involving the top four clubs from Scotland, Holland, Denmark and their own nation. UEFA opposition allied to additional fixtures, unfashionable contestants and a lack of public interest has already provoked doubts that the Atlantic League Mark II will ever come to pass.
Despite the storm of derision which met SPL chairman Lex Gold's public revelation of the plans, however, Preud'homme insists that earnest discussions will take place in mid-September and that Scottish football should welcome the new initiative.
Preud'homme said: 'In Belgium and Scotland, there are no clubs who can seriously hope to win the Champions League now. How can that be right?
'People in countries such as Scotland and Holland should be thanking us for what we are doing, not criticising us. 'It's only a proposal at this stage. All we have asked is that our league make contact with the other leagues and that
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