UEFA are key to Blatter's chances of success against Asian football supremo Mohamed Bin Hammam and senior figures within the body are convinced Europe will go en masse for Blatter.

Asked about the election, UEFA president Platini said: "I will make a statement at the beginning of May on the position of UEFA."

Europe however may not include England - the FA will decide who to back at a board meeting next month and many from both the professional and amateur game are strongly anti-Blatter after last year's 2018 World Cup bid defeat.

Blatter's manifesto, contained in a four-page letter to all 208 FIFA member associations, states the need for "evolution not revolution" but makes similar promises to national associations in terms of financial support.

Blatter, 75, has pledged to provide more than 1billion US dollars for development projects over the next four years - that compares with 1.6billion US dollars in the 13 years since he was first elected.

Bin Hammam, a 61-year-old Qatari, has also offered financial incentives by doubling the financial support handed out to each of FIFA's 208 member associations to 500,000 US dollars annually.

Bin Hammam's manifesto contains dramatic proposals for change - including creating 17 more executive committee positions on a new 41-strong 'FIFA board'.

But Blatter, 75, said in his letter: "In these challenging times FIFA needs first of all stability, continuity and reliability.

"We do not need revolution within FIFA but the continuous evolution and improvement of our game and our organisation."

Blatter promised to enhance the quality and attractiveness of the game through the new task force set up under Franz Beckenbauer to look at the laws of football, refereeing and technical aspects.

He also said under him FIFA would work to strengthen democracy in national associations and clamp down on corruption, match-fixing and doping.

"I have all the motivation, experience, ideas and energy needed to complete my mission," said Blatter, who has said he will definitely step down in 2015 if re-elected for a final term.

"I have decided to stand for my fourth and final term as president because in these uncertain times FIFA needs stability to secure all that we have achieved so far and to make essential changes to our beautiful game."

The election will take place at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on June 1. Blatter has appointed Swiss public relations agency WDG to run his campaign and also has Brian Alexander, the British broadcaster and 'media consultant', handling media relations in the UK.