Cherries: Rhoys ready to stake Wales claim

08 September 2010 07:00
RHOYS Wiggins is hoping his permanent switch to Dean Court will boost his international prospects and has admitted his surprise at John Toshack's possible departure.[LNB] Wiggins, who joined Cherries from Norwich in July, has been capped 16 times at under-21 and under-19 level during Toshack's six years as Wales manager.[LNB] However, his reign looks set to be coming to end with the FA of Wales tomorrow due to hold a press conference to clarify his position.[LNB] It is understood Toshack could be willing to step down with a number of ex-internationals calling for his head in the wake of Wales' disastrous start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.[LNB] Iwan Roberts and Robbie Savage both called for Toshack to go following Wales' 1-0 defeat in Montenegro on Friday, while Mickey Thomas said he felt their next qualifier against Bulgaria could be a watershed for Toshack if he remains at the helm.[LNB] Wiggins, however, expressed his support for Toshack when he said: I think he has done a decent job. I know other people might not think so and the supporters weren't happy after the Montenegro defeat.[LNB] But he has given the young lads a chance and has brought through the likes of Gareth Bale. I think the average age of the senior squad is very low and has got to be one of the lowest around.[LNB] I would like him to see it out for a couple of years or at least for a few more games into the qualifying campaign. Depending on what happens, he could still be there while they appoint someone else.[LNB] From a personal point of view, it would be nice to see Brian Flynn eventually take over. He is the under-21 manager and has a lot of respect for me as I have for him. It will be interesting to see what happens.[LNB] Wiggins, who has yet to win a full cap, added: Playing week in, week out for Bournemouth will definitely boost my chances and I know I need to be playing well to keep my place.[LNB] Brian Flynn spoke to me last season and said I needed to be playing regularly to stand a chance of getting that first senior call up.[LNB] I wasn't really thinking about that when I came here. I just want to get my club football up and running and League One is a good place to start. If I can have a good season then maybe the call up will come but, at the moment, I'm just focusing on Bournemouth.[LNB] Asked how he qualified for Wales, London-born Wiggins replied: My dad is Welsh and half of my family still live there. And they still take the Mickey out of me for playing football rather than rugby![LNB]

Source: Bournemouth_Echo