David Collins has confirmed that Wales will hold talks with Scotland about making a joint bid for the Euro 2016 finals.

 

Speaking on the day after that Poland and Ukraine won the race to jointly host the 2012 event Collins said: "Our next aim is to start work as soon as we can on putting together a joint bid with Scotland to host Euro 2016.

 

"We will definitely be holding talks with our friends at the Scottish FA before this year is out.

 

"The decision to give the Euro 2012 tournament to Poland and the Ukraine shows that  UEFA can be persuaded by joint bids of the right quality.

 

 "I'm very hopeful we can put an excellent bid together and put Wales in with a real chance of holding this prestigious tournament. The spin-offs for the country could be enormous."

Leading European officials, including head of UEFA Michel Platini were in Cardiff for the 2012 announcement.

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, world heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko, Olympic legend Sergey Bubka and Italian World Cup-winning manager Marcelo Lippi were also in Cardiff as part of the Euro 2012 bid process.

"We would need four stadiums above 30,000 capacity and I believe in time we would have the infrastructure to do that," Collins said.

 

"Of course, there's the Millennium Stadium, then the Liberty could be extended and I know the National Assembly are looking at the Racecourse in Wrexham. Cardiff City's new home is also under development.

 

 "Of course, Scotland already have four of the right size in Hampden Park, Ibrox, Celtic Park and Murrayfield.

 

"We believe a joint Welsh and Scottish bid is very realistic."