Thursday 15 December 2011

Speed Successor a 2012 Decision


The Football Association of Wales hopes to announce a successor to late Wales boss Gary Speed before their international friendly on 29 February.

The FAW plans a special tribute that night to the former manager, captain and most-capped outfield player.

No decision on Speed's replacement will be made by the FAW until the new year.

Wales' next opponents are yet to be confirmed for what will be an emotional first international fixture since Speed's shock death on 27 November.

The Welsh FA has yet to confirm the process, let alone select a date for a meeting, to decide how Wales' 13th full-time manager will be appointed.

Hopefully the board will respect Gary's wish so Osian Roberts and I can lead the team to BrazilRaymond VerheijenWales assistant manager

The FAW charged a six-man managerial panel to appoint a successor to John Toshack in 2010, the job Speed eventually got.

The Welsh FA's International Committee meeting convened on Monday but the position of national team manager was not on the agenda.

Raymond Verheijen was Speed's assistant manager and the Dutch coach wrote on Twitter that he thought the FAW should give Speed's backroom team the opportunity to continue his work.

"Hopefully the board will respect Gary's wish so [fellow assistant] Osian Roberts and I can lead the team to Brazil," Verheijen wrote.

"There is no need for a new manager with new ideas. Our success was based on Gary's clear structure. Everybody knows what to do for mission Brazil 2014."

Despite a difficult start to his reign as manager, Speed won four of his last five matches in charge.

Wales begin their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Belgium next September.