Aston Villa has ditched its prized involvement with the 2012 London Olympic football tournament - and may now be preparing its stadium for the 2018 World Cup .

Villa Park was due to host eight Olympics qualifying matches over four consecutive days which would have attracted supporters from eight different countries and millions in visitor spending.

But construction planned over the next few years at the ground means it can no longer “commit fully” to hosting preliminary matches in the Olympic football tournament, said the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog). The decision yesterday was described as a joint one between Locog and the club.

Last night club officials would not be drawn on the nature of the building work or the reasons behind it.

A Villa spokesman said: “Due to plans we have for the future in terms of developing Villa Park we have had to withdraw from being an Olympic venue because we cannot fully commit.”

But The Post understands the planned redevelopment ties in with requirements set by FIFA, the world’s governing body in football, to stage matches at the 2018 World Cup. England is bidding hard to win the right to stage the tournament and is considered one of the front-runners.

Villa Park, which successfully staged matches at Euro 96 and the football World Cup in 1966, already has a 40,000 seat capacity, one of FIFA’s criteria.

But the ground would need work to accommodate the level of advertisement hoardings requested by FIFA and also remain above the stipulated capacity.

The club is still ready to make its Bodymoor Heath training ground available to Olympic athletes, which could include the USA track and field team which has already confirmed it will prepare in Birmingham.

Birmingham and Solihull Chamber of Commerce said the loss of the Olympic matches and associated revenue should be put into a wider context.

Katie Teasdale said: “We are talking about eight games as part of an under 23s competition and not a (football) World Cup final between England and Germany. Whilst we always want our city and region to grasp every opportunity big or small, it’s clear Aston Villa has taken this decision in the interests of the club and the city’s future.”

City council leader, Coun Mike Whitby, said he hoped Aston Villa could still be part of the 2012 Olympic Games and that the parties concerned would find a way to provide Olympic football in the West Midlands.

Other clubs including Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest are now back in the running to be an Olympic host.

A Birmingham City spokesman said: “Birmingham City FC has not received any official request to host matches for the London 2012 football competition. If the Board want to make a decision then it will in due course.”

No one from West Brom was available for comment.