Sir Alex Ferguson is the man to lead a British football team at London 2012, says Lord Sebastian Coe.

But controversy surrounds the suggestion that Great Britain should enter a side at their home Games, with the football associations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland fearing it could compromise their independent status within Fifa, football's governing body.

But if the opposition can be overcome and a team entered, Coe, the chairman of the organising committee for the Olympics in four years' time, insists United boss Ferguson is the perfect man to coach them.

And he admits the matter has already been discussed with the Scot.

Coe said: "I would love to have him involved because he is a phenomenal coach, a great man manager and who would you want to have that mentoring role with Under-23 players from across the country for the build-up to a game

"We've had a few conversations but I do stress that it is for the FA and BOA (British Olympic Association) to make that judgement."

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