Sheffield United Football Club (SUFC) has put forward its case for the Bramall Lane stadium to be included as a host venue for the preliminary stages of the football tournament at the London 2012 Olympics.

It follows an announcement from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) that Aston Villa Football Club's (AVFC) Villa Park ground would have to be withdrawn due to a conflict with the club's plans to redevelop the venue. The 30,000-seat capacity Bramall Lane stadium already meets the International Olympic Committee's criteria for hosting football events, and SUFC has now written to the organisers of the 2012 Games, as well as the Football Association, to signal its intentions.

Jason Rockett, SUFC chief executive, said: "We feel our stadium, support facilities and operating team are ideally placed to step in and provide a suitable alternative venue to be considered by London 2012 officials. "We are well placed as a city and a football club to ensure that any games played at Bramall Lane would be successful, maximise the economic benefits and create the type of legacy 2012 officials are looking for."

Plans to increase the venue's capacity to 37,000 through the redevelopment of the Kop stand have recently been approved by the local authority as part of the city's bid to secure host status at the 2018 World Cup, should England's bid be successful. SUFC has also submitted plans to further increase that capacity to 44,000 seats.