Villa Park will not host 2012 Olympic football

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Aston Villa have decided instead to press ahead with plans for major construction work.

A statement from LOCOG, the London 2012 organising committee, said: "It has been agreed with Aston Villa that because they are unable to make firm commitments to the project, the best course of action is for Villa Park to be withdrawn as an Olympic venue."

The Birmingham stadium was one of five venues outside London which were allocated matches in the premliminary rounds.

LOCOG will seek a replacement to join Hampden Park, the Millenium Stadium, Old Trafford and St James's Park.

Construction work being planned over the next few years at the Birmingham-based ground means it can no longer commit fully to hosting preliminary matches in the Olympic football tournament.

Villa Park's withdrawal was a joint decision between LOCOG and Aston Villa, which now opens up the chance for other Midlands clubs to become London venues, provided they can meet International Olympic Committee rules.

These include that the stadium must be all-seater and have at least 30,000 capacity.

Other football grounds in the region including Coventry City, Birmingham City, Derby County, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest could now be in the running to be an Olympic venue as LOCOG will seek another Midlands venue.

The LOCOG spokesman continued: "The London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games has been working with its selected football venues over the past eight months, progressing and confirming plans across the tournament, and needed firm commitments from all the host stadia.

"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. It is looking at options for replacing Villa Park."