(Belfast, GBR) - Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has broken ranks with his own association by saying he has no issues with his players appearing in a combined British team at next year's London Olympics.
The British team has proved highly contentious with officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland fearing their players' participation will be the start of a process that ends with them ceasing to be independent football nations.
England, it has been argued, has far less to fear from such a combined team as, given their superiority in playing numbers, they would likely dominate a Great Britain side.
A recent British Olympic Association (BOA) statement inviting players from all Home Nations to take part in the Olympic football team and speaking of "consultation" was roundly condemned by the Scottish and Welsh Football Associations, as well as the Irish Football Association (IFA), the governing body in Northern Ireland.
"The players will have their own views on whether they want to be involved in a GB team at the Olympics and whatever their view is should have no impact on their international careers," Worthington told Thursday's Belfast Telegraph.
"I can understand players wanting to play in an Olympics and they should not be criticised for that but I also understand the position taken by the Irish FA.
"It is not an issue that I am really involved in as it's a matter for the associations and they have made their positions clear.
"As an international manager I would have no problem with players wanting to be involved."
His stance was backed by former Northern Ireland international Neil Lennon, now the manager of Scottish giants Celtic.
"Ultimately it wouldn't be my decision but I wouldn't stand in any player's way," Lennon said. "If the players wanted to go and participate in it I wouldn't have a problem with it.
"It's a hypothetical question I suppose. I would probably have to have dialogue with the SFA and I would respect their views, obviously, and I would have to respect the players' views."
Asked whether he would have wanted to play in a British team, Lennon added: "Probably not. I think that is important (the home nations' autonomy) but I think the Olympics, traditionally, should be an amateur sport.
"I know it has changed quite a great deal over the last three or four Olympics but I don't feel professional soccer should be an Olympic sport. It wouldn't have appealed to me really."
But Rangers's Kyle Hutton, 20, said the prospect of playing alongside former England captain David Beckham in a Great Britain team at the Olympics excited him, as did the Games themselves.
"Obviously if the chance came along to be picked for Team GB it would be a great achievement for me.
"It is the whole event, everybody knows about (the Olympics)."
As for having Beckham as a team-mate, he said: "He is a worldwide superstar because of his ability and to play alongside him would be a dream come true."
However, Hutton stressed Rangers were his priority.
"But if it coincided with the league and stuff like that I would leave it out and stick with Rangers and totally focus on them."
