John Toshack set to quit as Wales manager

All over: Toshack is walking awayWales manager John Toshack is set to step down this afternoon after considerable speculation in recent days. The 61-year-old's future has been unclear since Wales were beaten in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro last Friday. Toshack was due to hold meetings with the Football Association of Wales this morning before speaking alongside the governing body's president Phil Pritchard and chief executive Jonathan Ford at a press conference. Most attending will be expecting the former Real Madrid boss to announce he is standing down after almost six years in charge. It remains to be seen whether that means he will leave the post immediately or remain in charge for next month's qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland while a successor is found. Some reports have suggested current Under 21 boss Brian Flynn, formerly manager of Wrexham and Swansea, could take over on a caretaker basis. Flynn is also a potential contender for the job full-time after impressing in his role with the country's youngsters. Wales Under 21s failed to qualify for the European Championship play-offs by the narrowest of margins this week having reached that stage two years ago. Others to have been linked with the job include former Wales internationals Chris Coleman, Mark Bowen, Ryan Giggs and John Hartson. Whoever emerges from the field would need to have enjoyed an extraordinary career to better the track record of Toshack. The former Liverpool striker began his management career by leading Swansea to the top flight before going on to take charge of eight clubs on the continent. Humbled: Wales' Craig Bellamy speaks to the ref as his side crash in MontenegroThat included two spells with Spanish giants Real Madrid and three with Real Sociedad. He first took charge of Wales in 1994 but relinquished the post after just one game. He returned 10 years later and has since overseen huge changes in the national side. Several promising youngsters have emerged while a number of senior players such as Giggs, Gary Speed, Robbie Savage, Jason Koumas and Simon Davies have retired. Critics have claimed the manner in which this change has occurred - not least an unsavoury row with Savage - has left a lot to be desired. There was, though, genuine optimism last week as a team including Craig Bellamy and Gareth Bale - with Aaron Ramsey and Jack Collison waiting to return from injury - began the Euro qualifiers. That changed in the space of 90 minutes as Wales lost 1-0 in Podgorica and Toshack has since come in for considerable criticism. If Toshack decides he has taken the team as far as he can, he would leave with a record of 21 wins from 53 games in his second spell.   Giggs warned: Take Wales job and your playing days at United are overSign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsWales set to ask United star Giggs to join as a coach when Toshack quitsToshack quits and tips United stalwart Giggs to be the next Wales bossMontenegro 1 Wales 0: Toshack and Collins floored in Montenegro  

Source: Daily_Mail