SO much for the Football Asso-ciation's commitment to taking the England team to the masses.

Four years after Kevin Keegan's erratic reign as England manager ended with a 1-0 defeat to old enemies Germany and the bulldozing of Wembley, it appears that football's governing body has decided to ditch its enforced but successful experiment of hosting international matches at different stadiums up and down the country in favour of effectively making Old Trafford the national team's new home venue for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

Admittedly, St James' Park will host the Azerbaijan game but the home of Manchester United is to stage the Wales, Northern Ireland, Poland and Austria matches.

Aside from rabid Scotsman Sir Alex Ferguson's inevitable whingeing about possible wear and tear on his precious pitch (he will try anything to unsettle the Three Lions' preparations!), I believe the FA have also scored an own goal by making Old Trafford England's temporary "full-time" home.

Anfield, St James' Park, St Mary's, the Stadium of Light and the Riverside Stadium, as well as Old Trafford, have all been used during the qualifying campaigns for the last two major tournaments.

So why now ditch a policy, aimed at giving fans in different areas of the country an easier chance to watch Sven's men, when the novelty of staging a crucial international has guaranteed superb atmospheres at some of our domestic venues?

The cynical answer would be because of the money-spinning potential of playing games at a stadium which is currently the largest in England.

The FA's official stance is that a 67,000 capacity means more people can cheer on their heroes in the quest to qualify for Germany 2006.

Whatever the motive, it remains to be seen whether locating 80 per cent of England's qualifying matches to Manchester is in the best interests of the national team.

Old Trafford might be the biggest stadium in the country but the home of the "prawn sandwich brigade" does not always generate the best atmosphere.

Liverpool's Anfield ground might accommodate 22,000 fewer fans but, having been a spectator at the rousing 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Finland three years ago, I can testify that its more compact structure ensures a passionate environment that is intimidating for opposition teams.

The same argument that international teams raised their games in the famous surroundings of Wembley could also apply to the home of Manchester United who, on a global scale, are rightly or wrongly perceived as England's biggest football club.

Perhaps the most significant consequence of the England team's regular trips to Old Trafford will be to pave the way for Wayne Rooney's hotly-tipped transfer to last season's third-placed Premiership club.

"You never forget how to ride a bike" is a tired clich and it is one that the world's greatest-ever cyclist Lance Armstrong would give short shrift.

Armstrong, who rode to a record sixth Tour de France success at the weekend, did forget how to ride a bike after being treated for testicular cancer that spread to his lungs and brain.

His story, detailed in two autobiographies, is inspirational and his achievements in one of the world's most gruelling contests should place him alongside Pele, Muhammad Ali, Steve Redgrave, Tiger Woods and Michael Schumacher in any list of all-time sporting greats.

TKO was written this week by York City reporter Dave Flett.

Updated: 10:57 Tuesday, July 27, 2004