The Football Association of Wales chief executive, Jonathan Ford, is to face a disciplinary commission over his comment that the next Wales manager will “definitely” not be English.
The FAW’s investigation could delay an appointment because Ford is due to head up the process of finding Chris Coleman’s successor.
Ford said the FAW preferred the next Wales manager to be Welsh and “definitely not English”. “We have always favoured Welsh people because arguably the passion is there,” Ford told BBC Wales. “Somebody said this earlier, Welsh most definitely, foreign possibly, but definitely not English.”
The FAW council met in Cardiff on Tuesday and voted for Ford’s comment to be explored further, with a three-man disciplinary commission set up. The FAW is a strong supporter of the Kick Racism Out Of Football campaign and some members of the 34-strong council feel Ford’s remark could be viewed as potential racism by outsiders.
Ford and a six-man panel hoped the appointment would be made before the draw for the new Uefa Nations League in Switzerland on 24 January. But with no date over Ford’s disciplinary commission yet scheduled, those hopes could now be derailed.
Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy, John Hartson and Coleman’s former assistant, Osian Roberts, have all expressed interest in the job. Tony Pulis, the former West Brom manager who was born in Newport, has also been linked with the post.
Coleman’s near six-year reign came to an end last month when he left to take over at Sunderland. In that time Coleman guided Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 – their best performance at a major tournament – and into the top 10 of the world rankings.
Wales’ last four managers have all been Welsh – Mark Hughes, John Toshack, Gary Speed and Coleman. The last non-Welshman to manage Wales was the Englishman Bobby Gould, who had an unsuccessful spell in charge between 1995 and 1999.