SCOTLAND'S Euro 2017 preparations have been hit by the cancellation of next year's Cyprus Cup tournament.
The event, which is held in March, involved four competitive games in 10 days as well as providing guaranteed warm weather training at the start of the women's season. Run in partnership by the Scottish FA with their Dutch and English counterparts, it involves 12 teams and has been running every year since 2008.
Although a review of the tournament, aimed at getting the Cyprus FA involved, has been underway for several months, it became clear that 2016 would have to be scrapped when both England and the Netherlands indicated they wouldn't be sending teams.
Holland have no option as in March they are involved in a four-nation play-off for the last European place in next summer's Olympic Games. England accepted an invitation to play in a four-team tournament in the United States.
"The Olympics have pluses and minuses for women's football," Scotland coach Anna Signeul said. "They are very good in terms of finance and exposure for the countries which qualify, but it might be that every four years there will be an indirect effect on tournaments like the Cyprus Cup.
"As well as Holland, both Australia and South Korea had to pull out for the same reason - they are involved in Asian Olympic qualifying.
"We are now looking into different options for March. This is just for 2016 - a decision hasn't been taken for 2017, but I don't think it will be a problem."
That, however, is likely to depend on the FA in England and whether they continue to support the Cyprus tournament.
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