Villa keen on Intertoto entry

Aston Villa FC have applied to the Football Association to enter the UEFA Intertoto Cup for a third successive season after last year's successful campaign.

Taylor keen
The FA Premiership club qualified for the 2001/02 UEFA Cup after progressing through three two-legged ties last summer. Villa secretary Steve Stride confirmed the club had applied to enter the competition again with the full backing of Graham Taylor. The new manager is keen to secure European football for his side if they fail to seal an automatic place in either the UEFA Cup or UEFA Champions League.

Automatic entry the goal
"This is the right thing to do," Taylor said. "The aim has to be automatic entry into Europe and we'll be going all out for that in the next 12 games. But we want to look at every avenue. European football is what we want and if we get there through the Intertoto Cup then it's something we should try and do. I'm fully in agreement with the club's policy to enter again."

Three places available
UEFA has confirmed three UEFA Cup places will again be up for grabs for teams entering the Intertoto Cup next season. UEFA's 51 member associations are being asked to confirm participation and the number of Intertoto places they would like by 1 March. The UEFA Club Competitions Committee will establish each association's exact number of places, with the list of places intended to be published on 23 March. Clubs are then required to apply to enter the competition via their respective national association prior to the 28 May deadline.