Verheijen Tweets Wales Goodbye

Raymond Verheijen has announced he has resigned as Wales assistant coach.

The Dutchman revealed on Twitter that he was quitting, citing "political and destructive games" as his reason.

Verheijen had been due to be part of the managerial team taking charge of Wales in the Gary Speed Memorial game against Costa Rica on 29 February.

"Earlier today I have informed the FAW I will resign," he tweeted. "Have enough of the political and destructive games. Very sad day."

Later he tweeted: "Very proud to be part of Fifa's most improved team in 2011. Would like to thank the players and fans for an amazing journey."

BBC Sport Wales contacted Verheijen but he declined to make any further comment.

The Football Association of Wales confirmed Verheijen had tendered his resignation.

"The Football Association of Wales wishes to announce that it has today received the resignation of Raymond Verheijen," its statement read.

"The FAW accepts the resignation with regret, as Raymond was due to assist the Wales squad this week with the match against Costa Rica, a game being staged in honour of the Wales manager who tragically left us in November of last year.

"In light of the forthcoming match, and the sensitivities of it, the FAW has no further comment to make at this time.

"The FAW would like to take the opportunity to thank Raymond for his work over the last 12 months and wishes him well for the future."

New Wales manager Chris Coleman had said Verheijen and Osian Roberts would coach the team for the game at Cardiff City Stadium on 29 February.

However, there had been doubts over Verheijen's future ever since Speed's death in November, with the Dutchman having openly stated that he wanted to be part of Coleman's backroom staff and players including Wales captain Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale announcing publicly that they wanted Roberts and Verheijen to remain in their coaching roles.

Coleman said he had had a "positive meeting" with Verheijen in London but the Dutch coach, who has worked at World Cups with the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea and Australia, was never confirmed in the post and Coleman had admitted nothing was definite beyond the memorial game.

"We had a very good conversation for three hours, it was very positive," Coleman had told BBC Sport.

"We need to do this game for Gary and it is almost like everything is on standby as we all need to pay our respects to Gary.

"After that we can sit down and see where we are going forward."

More recently, Verheijen had accused the FAW of being "very disrespectful" for not inviting a former member of staff to Gary Speed's memorial match.

He claimed team operations manager Adrian Davies had been "sacked" and "will not be at" Wales' game with Costa Rica.

But the Football Association of Wales insists Davies was employed only on a match-to-match basis by Speed.

And on Monday night Verheijen tweeted: "Very surprised to hear from journalists I will be in charge of Wales vs Costa Rica game next week. Nobody of FAW has informed me about this."

Wales' Costa Rica friendly also marks the start of Coleman's preparations for their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign in which Wales begin at home to Belgium on 7 September.

The Welsh then have further friendlies against Mexico in New York on 27 May and against Bosnia-Herzegovina at home on 15 August.

Wales won four of their last five games with Speed at the helm, rising to 42 in the latest Fifa rankings having started 2011 ranked 113th.

Verheijen's resignation could also affect Craig Bellamy's future with Wales.

Bellamy, who is close to Verheijen, had committed to playing against Costa Rica but said his international future was uncertain after that game

Tweeting in the Valleys

Wales manager Chris Coleman has indicated he wants Raymond Verheijen to be part of his backroom staff.

Verheijen has admitted he had a "positive" first meeting as Coleman plots the national team's future.

Coleman succeeded the late Gary Speed as manager in January, and senior players have backed Verheijen and coach Osian Roberts to remain involved.

"We're very much looking for that [Verheijen staying]," Coleman told BBC Sport Wales.

"But we've only had one meeting, so I spoke as much with Raymond as I did with Osian Roberts or anyone else - nothing special.

"People have made it into something that it's not, really. It was a productive meeting and we'll speak again. It was promising."

Coleman, who was appointed said his Wednesday meeting with Dutchman Verheijen in London lasted "two or three hours".

Verheijen is a players' favourite and wanted to take charge of Wales with Roberts before Coleman was appointed.

"Interesting meeting with new Wales manager Chris Coleman," Verheijen wrote on Twitter "Positive first impression."

Coleman was due to meet Verheijen, who has worked at World Cups with the Netherlands, Russia, South Korea and Australia, in Amsterdam last Friday, but snow meant the meeting was delayed until Wednesday and moved to London.

Coleman has appointed former Wales team-mate and Fulham academy coach Kit Symons as part of his backroom staff.

Roberts will also remain part of the Wales set-up but Verheijen's future has been in doubt.

Coleman had "wanted to see where he is coming from".

Coleman had said previously: "A lot of people are saying: 'are you going to want to work with Raymond?' Well, maybe Raymond is not going to want to work with me.

"Raymond won't know me. He may know of me but he won't know me and I don't know Raymond. I know things about him but I've never been in his company and I've never had a chat."

Several Wales players, including Tottenham star Gareth Bale and captain Aaron Ramsey, publicly expressed their wish that Roberts and Verheijen continued in their roles.

Verheijen and Roberts were Speed's assistants during his reign that achieved five wins in 10 games as Wales made the biggest leap in the Fifa world rankings during 2011, moving into the top 50 for the first time since April 2003.

Roberts and Verheijen are also set to take charge of Wales' next international friendly, the Gary Speed memorial match against Costa Rica in Cardiff on 29 February.

Bale Backs Verheijen and Roberts

Gareth Bale has backed assistants Raymond Verheijen and Osian Roberts to remain part of Wales' management set-up following Gary Speed's death.

Verheijen was Speed's assistant and Bale thinks the Football Association of Wales should give the backroom team a chance after Speed's death in November.

Tottenham star Bale said it would be "absolutely ridiculous" to make significant management changes.

He added: "I know personally most of the players want to keep it the same."

Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs has been linked with the role and been offered a new one-year deal at Old Trafford.

Bale says he hopes the Football Association of Wales give their backing to his stance and that of the players he believes agree with him as they look forward to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September 2012 against Belgium.

"It's a massive blow for everybody [Speed's death]," said Bale.

"Nobody expected it at all, but I think we would definitely want to keep the same set-up.

"Raymond's done a fantastic job with Gary Speed and yeah, we want to keep it that way.

"Hopefully all the board members, all the FAW members will see sense and we've got a major tournament around the corner and we're playing some great football and we're getting actual results.

"So hopefully they've realised that that's happening... and I know personally most of the players want to keep it the same.

"Hopefully they... make sure that we can carry on Gary Speed's legacy and what he wanted us to do."

Bale is unsure as to whether or not another figure could or should be brought into the set-up.

But he added: "I think we definitely need to keep Raymond and Osian and the team around them, even the medical staff, all the fitness people.Bale made his Wales debut in 2006

"Everything at the moment is perfect and we're playing the best football we've ever played.

"We're getting big results which we've never really done before and we've got a major tournament around the corner.

"And it'll be absolutely ridiculous to change anything now because it'll take us a good year or two to get us back up to where we are now and hopefully the FAW can come to their senses and stick with what we've got."

Verheijen, 40, who has helped coach Netherlands, Russia and South Korea at World Cups, wants to continue alongside fellow coach Roberts.

The Welsh FA hope to name a successor to Speed ahead of their next game.

That is expected to be a friendly with Costa Rica in Cardiff on 29 February in what will be an emotional first international fixture since Speed's death.

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

The Welsh FA has yet to confirm the process for appointing Wales' 13th full-time manager will be appointed.

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

Verheijen has made no secret of his desire to remain involved with Wales alongside Roberts.

"Hopefully the board will respect Gary's wish so [fellow assistant] Osian Roberts and I can lead the team to Brazil," Dutch coach Verheijen wrote on Twitter on 11 December, 2011.

"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.