Ferguson cools 2012 talk

8:39am Saturday 30th August 2008

Sir Alex Ferguson has played down renewed speculation that he is ready take charge of a British football team at the 2012 Olympics - joking he would merely be happy to be alive by the time of the London Games.

Key figures - including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and London Organising Committee chairman Lord Sebastian Coe - have publicly courted the veteran Manchester United manager for the role.

"I won't involve myself in that, crikey - it's four years away and I may not be alive then," the 66-year-old quipped. "That's why I say my prayers."