SM
England vs. Ireland: 5 hrs 16 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

The key issues facing Wales before the World Cup qualifiers

:Headline: The key issues facing Wales before the World Cup qualifiers:
Wales start their campaign on March 24 and the delayed Euro 2020 is less than three months away.
Sports Mole

Wales start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in Belgium on March 24 and host the Czech Republic in Cardiff six days later.

But Welsh football is currently in a state of crisis with manager Ryan Giggs not attending games and chief executive Jonathan Ford leaving his position at the end of the month.

Here, the PA news agency examines the issues facing Wales just 89 days before their first game at this summer’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

What’s happening with Ryan Giggs?

Ryan Giggs celebrated Wales’ qualification for Euro 2020 with a 2-0 home victory over Hungary in November 2019 (Nick Potts/PA)

Everything was looking rosy when Wales qualified for Euro 2020 under Giggs and were top of their Nations League group. But Giggs was then arrested on suspicion of assault on November 1 after a reported row with girlfriend Kate Greville at his Manchester home. The former Manchester United star, 47, denies the allegation and has had his bail extended until May 1, with Greater Manchester Police having passed the file to the Crown Prosecution Service.

So Giggs has not been involved with Wales since?

Well, he was not physically at Wales’ November games – a drawn friendly against the United States and Nations League wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland which saw them top their group and secure promotion to the top tier of European football. But Giggs selected the squad and was in daily contact with caretaker boss Robert Page and the rest of the support staff. The same arrangement is in place for Wales’ three March games, according to Page, although the Football Association of Wales said last week Giggs would not be involved in the upcoming camp.

Will this be sorted soon?

Ryan Giggs’ recent watching football brief has been as co-owner of Salford rather than as manager of Wales (Mike Egerton/PA)

That would appear to be in the hands of the CPS. Page says he has had no dialogue with the FAW over what happens this summer. The 46-year-old former Wales captain says those conversations need to be had “further down the road” but time is short with the start of Euro 2020 less than three months away and the practicalities involved in planning for a major tournament.

But the chief executive’s gone too?

Chief executive Jonathan Ford lost the support of the Football Association of Wales council and is to leave his position after 11 years on March 31 (Ben Birchall/PA)

That’s right. The FAW announced last week that Jonathan Ford would be leaving his position on March 31 after 11 years in the post. Ford lost the confidence of the FAW council following several contentious issues behind the scenes, including widespread resentment at the FAW’s failure to adequately support the grassroots game during the Covid-19 pandemic. President Kieran O’Connor is expected to take a more hands-on role before a new chief executive is appointed.

body check tags ::

amp_article__439333 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-15 17:18:49:
html db last update - 2021-03-15 17:18:49 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Ryan Giggs

Click here for more stories about Wales

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Ryan Giggs Euro 2020 Jonathan Ford Robert Page Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
"A little bit of a shock" - England captain Kane opens up on surprising decision
Is Havertz still Arsenal's best option? Three "standout" striker targets assessed
From Ronaldo records to San Marino miracle: The story of 2024-25 Nations League

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Amorim's challenge: Man United 'hugely concerned' by new signing's struggles

1

AC

"A little bit of a shock" - England captain Kane opens up on surprising decision

2

&L

Aspinall next? Jones stops Miocic with spinning back kick to retain UFC title

NEW

3

AN

Preview: Hungary vs. Germany - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PH

Sunday's Nations League predictions including England vs. Republic of Ireland

5

SN

From Ronaldo records to San Marino miracle: The story of 2024-25 Nations League

6

FR

Amorim's "Jose Mourinho" part of fresh coaching set-up at Man United

7

A&

Amorim's anguish: Man United dealt new defensive injury worry

8

AA

Preview: Croatia vs. Portugal - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PC

Preview: Ghana vs. Niger - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PG


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .