Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been approached to manage an all-Britain football team at the 2012 Olympics in London, Gordon Brown said last night.

The Prime Minister is determined to see a British team in both the men’s and the women’s football tournaments when the Games come to the UK.

He said 2012 Organising Committee chairman Lord Coe had spoken to Ferguson about taking on the role.

Previously Britain has been prevented from entering because the four home countries - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - compete separately in other international matches –but all that is set to change.