Welsh say no player wants part in British Olympic team

Welsh football chiefs remain opposed to any of their country's players representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

Tottenham and Wales player Gareth Bale has reportedly intimated his interest in featuring at the tournament. At present that is not possible as the Football Association of Wales, along with their Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts, are refusing to take part. Those associations fear their independent status within world governing body Fifa could be jeopardised if they participate.

The English Football Association have therefore agreed to represent the host nation at the Games. The British Olympic Association insist, however, it would be discriminatory if the FA refuse to select players from any of the other home nations.

The impasse seems unlikely to be broken soon with the FAW yesterday insisting they will not make their players available.

FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position on this has not changed and is unlikely to change. There is no drive for us to change our position."

With Wales having not qualified for a major tournament since 1958, the attraction for a player such as 21-year-old Bale to the Olympic event is obvious. But Ford says no player has come forward with a request to the FAW about the matter. Ford and new Wales manager Gary Speed were speaking at a press conference to announce Vauxhall as the FAW's new main sponsor until the end of the 2014 World Cup campaign. The car manufacturer have already agreed a deal with the FA and are expected to make further announcements in conjunction with Scotland and Northern Ireland in the coming days. These new sponsorship deals have coincided with reports that the Home International tournament could be revived. The FA have played down the suggestions by saying they are considering arranging a series of friendlies with the other home nations in 2013, the year of their 150th anniversary.

Ford has gone a step further by suggesting England could be included in that year's Carling Nations Cup. That competition takes place for the first time this year with Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland playing in a round-robin event in Dublin.

Ford said: "I can confirm some provisional discussions have taken place with regard to what the remit of the 2013 tournament could be. I can certainly suggest on behalf of the Football Association of Wales, that if England did come back into the fold for a competition we would delighted to take part ourselves."

Vauxhall's managing director Duncan Aldred added: "Any reigniting of Home Internationals would be very good for the teams, very good for the fans and, obviously, very good for Vauxhall now as lead sponsor. And to see it repeated on a regular basis is something we would be very supportive of."