Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog), yesterday publicly aired his desire to see Sir Alex Ferguson run a Great Britain football team at the Games in 2012. Coe confirmed holding informal discussions with the Manchester United manager, as revealed by The Times in March, but did not say whether the Scot would take up the post.

“I can't think of anybody that frankly [more] deserves at the end of a stunning career to be in charge of young players here,” he said. “I've spoken to Alex. We know each other. We're good friends.”

Besides his coaching and motivational abilities, Ferguson offers a potential political solution to a longstanding dispute that has resulted in Britain's absence from the Olympic football finals tournament since 1960. As a Scot, he may bridge the gap between England and the other home nations, who fear that a Britain team would encourage Fifa, football's world governing body, to strip them of their special status and accompanying voting rights. Another legendary United manager and fellow Scot, Sir Matt Busby, was the Britain manager at the London Olympics in 1948 and guided them to fourth place.

The Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales said that they would block attempts to pick their players for a 2012 team who will be under 23, apart from three over-age players. London Olympic chiefs, committed to fielding a Britain team, hope to win them round.

Coe said: “I clearly want the best players, wherever they come from - Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England - to be there. But I also recognise it is an issue for the individual football associations and the door is open.”

Coe is an avid Chelsea fan whose loyalties will be tested next week when an inspection team from the International Olympic Committee arrives to assess London's progress. In between 2012 presentations, the double Olympic 1,500 metres champion is expected to make a flying visit to Moscow for the Champions League final on Wednesday.