NEXT WALES BOSS WON’T BE ENGLISH
ABERDEEN
WALES have dismissed the idea of an Englishman becoming their next boss.
The FA of Wales hope to appoint Chris Coleman’s successor before the draw for the new UEFA Nations League takes place in Switzerland on January 24.
But the governing body have made it clear Coleman, who has become Sunderland boss since he left his post, will not be replaced by an Englishman.
FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: “We have always favoured Welsh people because arguably the passion is there.
“Welsh most definitely, foreign possibly but definitely not English.”
Coleman parted company with the FAW last month following Wales’ failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in Russia.
His assistant Osian Roberts and ex-Wales strikers Craig Bellamy and John Hartson have all expressed their interest.
Former Wales and Manchester United forward Ryan Giggs and Newportborn Tony Pulis – sacked as West Brom manager last month – have also been strongly linked with the post.
The last six managers, including caretakers, have been Welsh with England’s Bobby Gould the last non-Welshman to hold the post between 1995 and 1999.
But whereas Ford’s comments disqualify any Englishman from being appointed they would not prevent the likes of Thierry Henry or Marcel Desailly – who did their coaching badges in Wales – from becoming candidates.
Wales’ next games are at the China Cup at the end of March in a four-team tournament alongside the host nation, Czech Republic and Uruguay.
Ford said: “We have a little bit of time and we will be going through that process, a diligent process, to select our new manager maybe towards the end of this year or the start of next year.
“We have the draw for the European Nations League at the end of January so it would be lovely to take a new manager across to that draw.
“Understandably a lot of people have expressed interest. These kinds of jobs advertise themselves.
“But I also have to go and see the relevant people. It’s a two-way street – people will assess us as much as we assess them and I would expect any prospective candidate to understand the system we have in place.”