Villa Park withdrawn as venue

Villa Park,with its 42,640 capacity, has been withdrawn as a venue to host 2012 Olympic football games because of uncertainty over rebuilding plans.

Aston Villa had been planning to add 8,000 seats additional seats to the ground in time for the Olympics, however the club has not put construction plans into a firm timescale. The London organising committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) is now looking for a replacement venue.

"The club is considering plans for major construction work over the next few years," read an official LOCOG statement. "Whilst these plans are developed, the club is unable to commit fully to hosting matches."

"LOCOG is grateful to Aston Villa for its support to date, and is continuing with its planning in order to deliver a first class Olympic football tournament."

The ground would have been one of six around the UK to be used to the London Games: Hampden Park in Glasgow, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Manchester United's stadium Old Trafford, and St James's Park in Newcastle will all host the preliminary games of the men's and women's tournaments. The finals will take place at Wembley Stadium.