Wales player have frequently complained about the pitch at the Millennium Stadium. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sports
Wales

Wales poised for return to Millennium Stadium for England fixture

• FAW calculate switch will generate more revenue
• Decision will upset Wales squad who prefer Cardiff City
Sat 9 Oct 2010 17.30 EDT

Wales are set to scrap plans to use the Cardiff City Stadium for their 2012 European Championship qualifier against England in March and move the match to the Millennium Stadium instead. The decision will be welcomed by England but go down badly with the Wales players, who have an awful record at the Millennium Stadium and have made it clear they would prefer to take on Fabio Capello's side at Cardiff's new home.

The Football Association of Wales were giving serious consideration to playing the match at the Championship club if it enhanced chances of qualifying for the 2012 finals but those hopes are in tatters after defeat to Bulgaria on Friday night left them without a point from their opening two matches.

Resigned to being no more than also-rans in Group G, the FAW have decided the England game is now all about maximising revenue. They have calculated that playing the fixture at the Millennium Stadium, where they would hope to attract a crowd of at least 50,000, will bring in about £1.5m in gate receipts, double the maximum generated at the 27,000-seat Cardiff City Stadium. The news will please England supporters, who will have a better chance of getting a ticket for the game.

John Toshack, the former Wales manager, said last month the players were "keener to play away from the Millennium", where they have frequently complained about the pitch and won only eight of their last 26 competitive matches. There was also a feeling among the squad that Cardiff's compact ground, where Wales played their first competitive match away from the Millennium in 10 years yesterday, would have created a much more intimidating atmosphere for the England players.

After the Speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Bulgaria, the caretaker manager, Brian Flynn, said he was upset with the performance. "It was painful and it was disappointing. Training has been fantastic but we just didn't match that."

Flynn knows the result has not helped his chances of securing the job permanently. "I am caretaker for two matches, and my plan was to get six points, which hasn't happened. I've had a head start [in attempting to secure the job] but I have been reined back a little bit now. Personally, this has dented my chances."

Flynn will be forced to make changes for Tuesday's game in Switzerland after Chris Gunter's red card for a professional foul on Dimitar Rangelov, while Sam Ricketts is also suspended. Joe Ledley has returned home because his partner is expecting their first child, and Hal Robson-Kanu has dropped out with a hamstring injury.

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