Celtic trio to launch bid to host Euro 2016?

The Scottish and Welsh football associations are set for crunch talks in February over the prospect of co-hosting the 2016 European Championships.

Scotland's long-standing dream of staging the finals appeared to have ended in September when UEFA announced they were increasing the number of participants from 16 to 24 in eight years' time.

The country lacks the infrastructure to host an expanded tournament but the SFA are looking to link up with one of their near neighbours in the hope a combined bid will be successful.

They have also held talks with Northern Ireland, but the lack of stadia may make this a non-starter, leaving Wales as the only viable alternative. However, Irish Football Association president Raymond Kennedy is keen to have further talks with his Scottish counterparts over the prospect of helping them host the 2016 European Championships.

In a statement the SFA said: "As we've always said, we would love to host the European Championships in Scotland.

"However, we realise it's a huge undertaking and, as far as 2016 goes, we simply couldn't host it by ourselves.

"We're meeting with the other Home Nations at the International Football Association board meeting in Belfast in February. I'm sure it's something we'll discuss.

"If there was a feeling that a bid was a possibility, we would then commission a feasibility study."

Talks between the SFA and the FAW over a joint bid have been mooted for more than a year, with the latter revealing in April 2007 they hoped to enter into discussions.

But Wednesday marked the first time the SFA have confirmed such talks have taken place.

An FAW spokesman said "very tentative" discussions have been ongoing for some time.

FAW secretary general David Collins told the BBC: "The matter is on the agenda for our council meeting next week."