Chris Coleman 'has no idea' about Wales future beyond this month

Coleman 'has no idea' about Wales future
© Getty Images
Chris Coleman is unsure whether he will stay on as Wales manager for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, as he prepares his side for friendlies against France and Panama.

Wales manager Chris Coleman has confirmed that he has opened talks with FAW chiefs over a new contract, but is unsure how long those discussions will last.

The 47-year-old hinted last year that he intended to bow out at the end of the World Cup 2018 campaign, regardless of whether his side reached the finals or not.

Coleman has since backtracked on that stance and left the door open for another two-year deal but, after the agony of missing out on a playoff spot for Russia 2018, the former Fulham and Coventry City boss is still weighing up his options.

Asked if the upcoming friendlies against France and Panama will be his last in charge, he told reporters: "I have no idea, to be honest Theoretically yes, we don't play again until March and that is quite a long time in football. Initial talks have been undertaken since our last game. My representatives have spoken, they have had one meeting, and that is basically where we are. I always thought we would be here, announcing the squad for the playoffs.

"I was confident of that and that didn't happen But nevertheless we have got two good games and I was always going to be taking this camp. Is it my last camp? I really don't know. We are where we are. My contract is where it is. We are not further forward from where we are. Nevertheless, France in Paris is a fantastic game and if this is my last camp, it is not a bad way to sign off. If all things are good, I think everybody will look at me personally and my contract, but there are more elements in the equation than that.

"I have to look at it and say 'can I take it forward? Is the structure what I need it to be, to take it forward? Are the facilities what we need to take it forward?' It is not just me personally. I have always promoted my staff because they have done such a good job. So, all things need to be right for us to take it forward. It is not just a case of me sitting down and saying, my contract is this, that and the other.

"If you are managing Wales, this is not how you make a fortune and that's OK. We are at, I wouldn't say a critical, but an important crossroads. Are we going to take it on? Am I the man to take it on? Have I got the tools to take it to the next step? The next step is going to be tougher than the last step because the margins are smaller. 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."

Coleman, linked with a number of Premier League positions over the past 18 months, has named Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale in his 24-man squad for this month's friendlies.

Wales squad in full:

Hennessey, Ward, Maxwell, Davies, Chester, Taylor, Gunter, Lockyer, A Williams, Ampadu, Allen, Edwards, King, Ledley, Ramsey, Huws, J Williams, Watkins, Bale, Robson-Kanu, Vokes, Lawrence, Brooks, Woodburn

Chris Coleman leads a Wales training session on March 22, 2016
Read Next:
New Wales deal for Chris Coleman?
>
You May Like
Recomended from Sports Mole



Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1110103873131
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd117222351823
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs117222071323
4Chelsea117131910922
5Liverpool115422117419
6Arsenal116142016419
7Burnley11542109119
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton114341111015
9Watford114341721-415
10Huddersfield TownHuddersfield11434813-515
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle114251010014
12Leicester CityLeicester113441616013
13Southampton11344911-213
14Stoke CityStoke113351322-912
15Everton113261022-1211
16West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom11245914-510
17Bournemouth11317714-710
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham112361123-129
19Swansea CitySwansea11227713-68
20Crystal Palace11119422-184