Next Wales manager: Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy contenders to replace Chris Coleman

Coleman left the Welsh team after failing to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in Russia and has since joined Sunderland

Ryan Giggs is one of the contenders to be the next Wales manager (Getty)

Former players Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy are among the candidates being considered by Wales to replace Chris Coleman, with an appointment expected this month.

Coleman left the Welsh team after failing to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in Russia and has since joined Sunderland.

The FAW has taken its time in considering which direction they want to go in but have now interviewed four candidates and will pick one before the draw for the Uefa Nations League on January 24th, The Independent understands.

Giggs and Bellamy were interviewed despite never having held full-time managerial roles, though former Manchester United winger was the caretaker boss at Old Trafford in the wake of David Moyes’ departure in 2014. He later admitted that the pressure of managing United had made him break down in tears and struggle to sleep, but he stayed on as assistant manager under Louis van Gaal before departing the club with Jose Mourinho’s appointment in 2016.

Mark Bowen, Mark Hughes’ assistant at Stoke until this month, has also interviewed for the role as well as Coleman’s former assistant Osian Roberts, who has been described as the “most influential man in Welsh football.”