Welsh FA defers venue change plan

Wales attracted just 14,505 fans for the World Cup qualifier against Russia

The Football Association of Wales will defer its decision to move some Welsh international qualifiers away from the Millennium Stadium until March.

The FAW discussed the plan at Tuesday's International Committee meeting and will make a decision after the Euro 2012 qualification draw on 7 February.

Wales will continue to play attractive qualifiers at the Millennium Stadium.

The FAW does not have to tell Uefa where it will host qualifying matches until 60 days before each fixture.

The Millennium Stadium has hosted all of Wales' World Cup and European Championship qualifiers since 2000 but now the FAW are considering change.

Cardiff City's new �50 stadium holds 26,500 and was opened in the summer

Wales captain Craig Bellamy has backed the move while manager John Toshack admits his players "feel more comfortable" playing games at Wales' smaller grounds.

The Millennium Stadium will host big games but smaller qualifiers are set to be shared around the new 26,500-capacity Cardiff City Stadium, Swansea's 20,000-capacity Liberty Stadium and the new Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

Wales' recent 2010 World Cup qualifying defeat by Russia in Cardiff - the last guaranteed qualifier at the Millennium Stadium - attracted just 14,505 fans.

The Welsh FA are to end their Millennium Stadium qualifying season ticket initiative at the end of this campaign as the association considers taking Wales' qualifiers on tour.

Wales have enjoyed just one Millennium Stadium crowd of over 30,000 fans in their last 11 qualifiers and Toshack's team have played friendly games away from Cardiff's 74,500 capacity arena.

The Uefa 2012 European Championships qualifying draw will take place in Warsaw on 7 February so the FAW will make its decision following the group draw.

If Wales draw attractive or well-followed teams such as Italy, England, the Netherlands or Scotland, the bigger games will be at the Millennium Stadium, while Wales will go on the road to face the minnows of their group.

Wales once averaged crowds of 73,000 and were the best supported nation in Europe when Mark Hughes' men narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2004 European Championships.