CONFIDENT Welsh soccer bosses predict a 2,000 per cent increase in Millennium Stadium season ticket sales for Wales' World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign - thanks to the England factor.

Just 2,500 die-hard fans bought season tickets for Wales' Euro 2004 qualifying push but the Football Association of Wales is positive of a ticket rush and hope the figure will multiply twenty-fold to smash the 50,000-ticket barrier.

The season ticket - which is likely to cost around £80 - will be the only sure way that non FAW database members can guarantee an invaluable seat inside the 72,500-capacity Millennium Stadium when David Beckham, Michael Owen and the rest of Sven-Goran Eriksson's superstars come to Cardiff for the much-anticipated 'Battle of Britain.'

The season ticket will also secure supporters a pew for Wales' other Group Six games against Poland, Austria, Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

The season ticket will go on sale in the spring after the dates for Group Six fixtures are announced and following the FAW's meeting to discuss ticketing of Wales' World Cup 2006 crusade. The tickets are likely to be available to FAW database members first before being released to the general public.

"The ticketing policy has not yet been agreed but the season ticket idea is one that we will surely implement," said Mark Evans, Head of International Affairs at the FAW.

"The season tickets will cost approximately £60 to £80 for the five matches which is pretty reasonable as some people would pay that just to watch Wales play England.

"Welsh fans have been loyal to us so we'll be loyal to them. Even though our ticket policy has not yet been decided I don't think we'll hike up our prices and ensure that the Millennium Stadium is one of the cheapest places in Europe to watch international football.

"We only sold 2,500 season tickets for the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign but we'd hope to sell 50,000 for this World Cup campaign. We proved we are the best supported nation in Europe with an average home gate of 72,000 and I am sure the England factor as well as our progression under Mark Hughes will keep getting bums on seats.

"And having a season ticket would make it logistically easier for us and take the hassle out of ticket buying for our fans as they won't need to hang on the end of the phone before every one of our matches.

The FA of Wales is also thinking of introducing a supporters club in an effort to reward Wales' hard-core travelling fans priority tickets for away matches.

"We are very keen to reward those fans who have watched Wales home and away for many years, through thick and thin," added Evans.

Wales' Euro 2004 play-off disappointment against Russia caused heartbreak across the principality but the draw against the old enemy England has recaptured the imagination of the Welsh public - and the FAW know they must react.

Evans added: "We have very close relationships with our fans and we aim to give them what they want."

The FAW's database, that invites members to apply for tickets before they go on general sale, is now not adding to its 18,000 members so to 'reward their loyal fans.'

Wales' Under-21 side will be joined by German in the next UEFA qualifying tournament as Northern Ireland do not have an under-21 team.