COLEMAN DEMANDS RIGHT TOOLS TO STAY WITH WALES
Chris Coleman admits the entire structure of the national football set-up needs to be fit for Wales to continue to succeed if he and his staff are to remain at the helm.
The upcoming friendlies with France and Panama could potentially be the last of Coleman’s time as Wales boss, with speculation mounting over his future in the aftermath of the World Cup qualifying heartache suffered against Republic of Ireland in October.
Speaking after announcing a 24-man squad for those matches, Coleman confirmed that he held talks with FAW chiefs following that painful defeat to Martin O’Neill’s side over his future, although a decision is yet to be made meaning further discussions will be required after the Panama game. And the Welsh boss says the whole set-up behind the scenes has to continually improve if Wales are to enjoy more success in the future, and crucially he believes they will have to give the nation a platform to better themselves.
“I have to look and think: “Can I take it forward, is the structure and facilities good to take us forward?” So it’s not just me personally,” said the Wales manager.
“All things need to be right for us to take it forward. If you’re managing Wales, it’s not where you make a for-
tune, it’s how it is and it’s okay.
“But for where we are and where we’ve come from, I have to think: “Am I the man to take it on and have I got the tools to do so?”.
“The next step is going to be harder because the margins are smaller. We’ve been a top 10 team in the last couple of years.
“To maintain that or take it on, the next step is even tougher and it means we need to do things a bit differently. Maybe not all parties will agree but that’s my take.
“That’ll be probably another two or three conversations before I get to a yes or a no. We’re not there yet and I think that’ll be after this camp.
“The main thing is the football, we’ll get together after this camp again.
“They’ve always been good with me like that (the FAW), I asked them not to put pressure on me about contracts during the World Cup qualifiers and they were fab with me.
“The day after the Ireland game talks started.
“But now we’ve got two more games. “I can’t escape this conversation but as soon as we get into camp it’s about France and Panama.”
The 47-year-old’s six-year tenure could potentially come to an end later this month and if that were to be the case, the clash with Panama would be the last of his reign as Wales boss.
But while Coleman admits he expected his latest squad announcement to be one for World Cup qualifying play-off matches rather than friendly encounters, he stressed that talks may well see him continue in his current role beyond 2017.
“I have no idea (if France and Panama will be his last games),” said Coleman.
“Theoretically yes but we don’t play then until March and that’s a long time in football. Initial talks have been undertaken since our last game, conversations with myself chief executive and president were just days after Ireland and that’s where we are.
“I thought we’d be here announcing a squad for the playoffs but that didn’t happen but we still have two good games. I was always taking this camp but is it my last one? I really don’t know.
“We’re no further forward on where we were. France in Paris is a fantastic game for us and if this is my last camp it’s not a bad way to sign off.
“It may be the final that never took place and of course we’ve never played Panama. I really don’t know what’ll happen.”