London: Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that three of his players have been asked whether they would be willing to represent Great Britain in next year's Olympic Games.
Club captain Scott Brown, Scotland winger James Forrest and Wales full-back Adam Matthews have received letters from Team GB captain Stuart Pearce, who is attempting to determine which non-English players are interested in taking part.
The Scottish, Welsh and Irish national associations are against their players participating under the UK banner because they fear that Fifa members may insist that the four nations are derecognised when it comes to World Cups and European Championships.
"I haven't had the chance to speak to the players but Scott, James and Adam were sent formal invitations," said Lennon. "We will sit down with them over the next few weeks and see what they are thinking. If they want to go I can't stop them. It's the timing of it, with the start of the season next year and the [European club] qualifiers. My view is that football is not an Olympic sport, although it is a great spectacle.
