Smith unveils Home Nations plans

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The SFA announced yesterday a competition involving Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could start in 2011, following talks involving each national association.

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Smith said: "We're looking at having a tournament where we all play each other, so it's three games, and we're looking at having one game in February and two in May to tie up the tournament and have a winner established."

Each championship will have a host team, which will change on a rotational basis, and all matches will take place in their country.

Fixtures already in place for the next two and a half years prevented the tournament being added to the international schedule with immediate effect, or from next year.

With the 2010 World Cup qualifiers already fixed in place on the calendar, there was little prospect of the tournament beginning until after the tournament in South Africa for practical reasons.

Although 2011 has not been inked in as a definite starting point for the Four Nations, it is highly likely to begin then.

England declined the chance to take part, with Smith receiving indications from the FA they are seeking a higher class of opponent for non-World Cup and European Championship matches.

"England have been approached," Smith added on BBC Radio Scotland.

"England have made it clear they don't want to be part of this kind of tournament now.

"They maybe see themselves as being a bigger nation and going for bigger friendlies, more high-profile friendlies.

"We would have liked England to be involved."

Each country will be hoping the four-team tournament proves a money-spinner and adds a competitive edge to matches outside the World Cup and European Championship.

Since the Home Internationals were abolished in 1984, 100 years after they were first contested, Northern Ireland and Wales have failed to qualify for any major summer tournament.

Scotland's sports minister Stewart Maxwell gave the plans his full backing and predicted a tournament involving all four countries would be well received.

He said: "I am sure all Scottish football fans will be encouraged to see that plans for a four nations tournament are moving forward positively."