Thursday, September 09, 2010

Toshack leaves Wales ... but only by mutual consent




















And so, as widely predicted since last weekend, John Toshack finishing as Wales team manager was finally confirmed in a lunchtime press conference today but the sting in the tail was that it has to be by mutual consent with Tosh making it clear that he didn't want to go now and was fully expecting to be at the helm for next month's crucial double header at home to Bulgaria and away in Switzerland.

Tosh, though, was in a very large minority who felt that it would have been appropriate, it surely would be untenable for any quitting manager to stay in charge of any country.

The press conference video will follow in a separate post but in it, Toshack stated, "I didn't decide to finish at moment. I was quite prepared to go on for next two matches ... I wanted to assess after three games."

However he added that, "We have come to the agreement though that it may be better for all concerned that a change is made now. I think Wales are still very much in this group. I hope the new man can win next two games" but extraordinarily added it may have been better to have kept him in case those games don't go well ... an incredibly negative argument for him to have continued.

Toshack made it known after last week's defeat and terrible performance that he was ready to go but the seeds were sown late last year at an away friendly in Croatia in which 14 players pulled out. "All the injuries have made it very difficult. Instead of pushing on we have gone the other way. I was disappointed we had 14 players missing for (that game)".

The search now begins for a replacement and it's needed in a rush but no news was forthcoming today although the media would seem to want Ryan Giggs, John Hartson has thrown his hat in the ring and Stoke manager Tony Pulis said it is too early for him ... diplomatically ruling himself out.

However my opinion on Tosh who had a very respectable Wales record but followers will know his main successes only ever came in friendlies and he proved to be as poor as anyone in competitive games. Too stubborn and arrogant, out of touch with the modern game - a damning condemnation for someone I wanted to have the job and who was very critical of previous Wales managers when he was a pundit.

"Judge me on the World Cup 2010 campaign" Toshack once famously said. The decision took too long to make but that judgement has now been made.

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