GREAT news that the Football Association has announced England will join the bidding for the 2018 World Cup. Now it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of the bid.

On this basis, despite England having a number of the best stadia in the world, we need significant support from fellow European football associations in the hope of capturing most of Europe's eight votes, which make a third of the overall 24 world votes.

An immediate solution would be to tempt Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland's FAs by staging a match at Hampden Park, Croke Park, the Millennium Stadium and Belfast's planned 45,000-capacity stadium.

This might not be popular with some, but if it wins us the event, and the 30-plus games, it is a small price to pay.

Also, England and the Premiership's big four clubs should all officially tour Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the US, Japan and South Korea to drum up support via expats and Premiership supporters, to ensure we win their votes should those countries not enter the race, or fall during the bidding hurdles.

Roll on the correct decision being made in 2011 to bring football home.

Mark Anderson, Middleton St George, near Darlington.