We’d all love Roberts to stay on, says Davies
BEN Davies says the Wales squad would be delighted if the Football Association of Wales kept Osian Roberts in its coaching team, regardless of who the new national manager is.
The FAW are in the process of finding a replacement for Chris Coleman, who left his job to join Championship side Sunderland in November.
FAW technical director Roberts served as assistant to Coleman and Gary Speed, helping Wales develop and adopt a fluid tactical set-up based around a 3-4-2-1 line-up.
His methods have won plaudits from the national squad, and in the wake of Coleman’s departure, Roberts signalled his interest in stepping up to the top job.
Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs is the favourite, and is understood to be among those interviewed by the FAW as they seek an appointment before the UEFA Nations League draw on January 24.
Tottenham defender Davies and the rest of the Dragons’ squad are awaiting developments, but he would not be drawn on whether they had any preference.
“For us as a team we’re just waiting like everybody else at the moment,” he said.
“We have no say, no idea really who is going to come in. I think he (Giggs) has got an opportunity, but whoever comes in we’ll always work as hard as we have done as a squad.
“It doesn’t really make a difference, whoever comes in.”
But when asked about Roberts’ position, he said: “It’s not up to me. I think he’s done great for us, he’s a good coach, but as players it’s out of our hands.
“But Osian has been great for us, and as players we’d be delighted if he stayed.”
Davies was speaking after helping Spurs boost their top-four aspirations at the expense of former club Swansea.
The 2-0 defeat left the Swans bottom of the Premier League table and four points from safety.
Davies, 24, was pleased to see the manner in which the Welsh club took the game to their visitors after a passive opening half-hour.
And he feels more of the same will be needed.
“It was nice to see the spirit they showed in the second half really,” he said.
“They had a go at us. I thought in the first 20 they sat off too much and gave us a lot of time on the ball.
“We got a bit sloppy and we could have killed the game had we been a bit sharper.
“But they came back at us and if we had not scored the second when we did we probably would have been holding on in the last couple of minutes.
“It was a tough part of the game for us as they had a good period, but they didn’t take advantage of it.
“They’ve got some good players with that bit of quality.
“It looks as if they’ve got that spirit to get them out of it, but if the confidence isn’t there it’s difficult.”