Villa Park set to host Charity Shield in Olympic year

Villa Park was today named as the likely host for the 2012 Community Shield as the Football Association seek an alternative venue during the Olympic Games.

The fixture is contractually committed to Wembley for the foreseeable future but with the national stadium scheduled to hold the final of the Olympic football tournament on the weekend of August 12, FA chiefs have been forced to look elsewhere.

There had been some speculation the FA would use the opportunity to take the game overseas, as the Italian FA did with the Super Cup which has been staged in Washington and the Libyan capital of Tripoli in the past and was held in Beijing in 2009 and 2011.

But despite the financial appeal of hosting the game abroad, the FA have decided not to follow that route with a spokesperson stating that the "Community Shield will take place at the traditional time at a prestigious stadium in England".

In the past the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has been used to stage major finals but with the ground also hosting Olympic football matches, it is not thought to be under serious consideration. And it is understood that the FA are in advanced negotiations with Villa and the relevant authorities about staging the traditional curtain-raiser to the season on the weekend of August 12.

The other options include Old Trafford, which has a capacity of 75,811 but the high chances of Manchester United or rivals Manchester City being involved in the match mean it is likely to be ruled out.

John Lamb, of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, believes the plans will provide a welcome boost for the region. He said: "It's great news for business in the region and the television exposure will take us around the globe. The Olympics will be the major sporting event in the country at the time but the Community Shield is the one that matters for fans of English football."