By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – Talk about a storm in a teacup. Just a couple of days after opening an investigation against their chief executive Jonathan Ford for allegedly talking out of turn by saying the next Wales manager could be “foreign”, but “definitely not English”, the Football Association of Wales has decided to take no action.
“We have always favoured Welsh people because arguably the passion is there,” Ford was quoted as saying by local media. Hardly inflammatory stuff and after meeting with Ford the FAW, having clearly overreacted, has accepted his comments were taken out of context.
A FAW statement read: “The CEO has clarified comments made in a media interview, where he repeated details of a previous conversation, in which a third party stated that the search for a National Team Manager should preclude an English applicant.
“Following the discussions today, it was accepted that the documented comments were taken out of context and not in the manner in which they were intended.”
“The CEO has apologised for the statement and the FAW officers, having reviewed the situation, do not propose to take the matter any further.”
Ford will continue to head a seven-man panel to find the next Wales manager following Chris Coleman’s departure with an appointment likely to be made before the draw for the new UEFA Nations League in Switzerland on January 24.
“The FAW and CEO will conduct a search for the new manager in an open and objective fashion, the appointee will be the best person for the role,” the FAW statement added.
“The Officers of the Association fully support the CEO Jonathan Ford, acknowledge the significant achievements in taking Welsh football forward over the last eight years and look forward to continue to work together in the future.”
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