Steve Cooper has claimed he could have done more transfer business at Leicester City if the club’s successful appeal against a Premier League ruling had been announced earlier. Cooper – the only Welsh manager in the top flight – was drawn into the long-running dispute over an alleged spending rule breach when he took charge earlier this summer.

Ollie Cooper went to the last World Cup, but his role was not one that grabbed too many headlines. The Swansea City midfielder was part of the Wales group that journeyed to Qatar almost two years ago, but his duties were as a back-up training partner, rather than an official member of the 26-man squad.

Former Swansea City head coach Russell Martin has claimed he is not feeling any pressure following criticism of Southampton’s performances so far this season. Saints have started with three Premier League losses, having endured something similar when Martin took over at the club last year.

Cardiff City have suffered a significant setback ahead of their trip to Derby County on Saturday, with Aaron Ramsey ruled out due to injury. The midfielder sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Wales and will miss the match at Pride Park this weekend.

You don’t need to be a Hollywood scriptwriter to recognise that Wrexham have made a box office start to the season. Five matches played in League One and they sit at the top of the table, unbeaten, and with 13 points taken from a possible 15.

Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has revealed how a Zoom call with Craig Bellamy finally kick-started his Wales career. Darlow became Wales’ oldest debutant since World War II by lining up against Montenegro just a month shy of his 34th birthday.

Jack Marriott has warned Wrexham’s League One rivals his team intend to keep their foot hard to the floor as they aim to drive themselves into the record books. No club has ever tyre-screeched their way from non-League to the second tier in successive seasons, but Wrexham continue to leave the rest in their exhaust fumes.

Craig Bellamy expressed pride over Wales’ win in Montenegro after facing what he said were the toughest conditions in his career. Torrential rain in Niksic saw the City Stadium pitch cut up from the early stages, with players regularly losing their footing and the ball skidding everywhere on the sodden surface.

Craig Bellamy has paid tribute to the legacy left by Gary Speed by declaring that Welsh football will always carry his identity. Speed, who played alongside Bellamy for Newcastle and Wales and also coached him at international level, took his own life in November 2011 at the age of 42.

Phil Parkinson has insisted it is early days, but there is no denying his Wrexham team have quickly regained the Hollywood-fuelled momentum that carried them to back-to-back promotions. The Wrexham manager smiled broadly, but made calming gestures with his hands after his team moved three points clear at the top of League One, with an emphatic 3-0 derby victory over Shrewsbury at The Racecourse Ground. Parkinson’s side were told by many pundits to temper their expectations in the third tier, given that bigger clubs with larger budgets would be muscling their way to the top.

Wales began the Craig Bellamy era with a 0-0 Nations League draw against 10-man Turkey in Cardiff. New boss Bellamy did not get the victory he would have craved at kick-off but it was a positive performance from Wales against opponents who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 this summer.

Aaron Ramsey has insisted he never thought about stepping away from international football after the setback of failing to qualify for Euro 2024. Instead, the Wales captain has confirmed he aims to keep playing until the 2026 World Cup.

Craig Bellamy has always talked a good game, which is why as a player he was just as watchable off the field as on it. It’s no surprise, then, that in the lead-in to his first match as Wales manager, the former striker has proved entertaining as well as illuminating.

Harry Wilson believes Wales have a score to settle with Turkey after missing out on Euro 2024. Wales finished behind group winners Turkey and Croatia in Euro 2024 qualifying, forcing them down the play-off route where they eventually succumbed to Poland on penalties.

Mark Harris is looking forward to being back at the Cardiff City Stadium – but has no regrets at moving away. The former Cardiff striker could figure for Wales against Turkey on Friday night in Craig Bellamy’s first match in charge

Connor Roberts insists the Wales players are as excited as the fans to see what sort of team and style Craig Bellamy sends out to play against Turkey in his first game in charge. The clash at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night will be the first of six Nations League matches the new Wales boss is hoping to use to hone his side for a major assault on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

New Saints manager Craig Harrison has insisted selling striker Brad Young to the Saudi Pro League is a “win-win” for everyone involved. Young has joined Al-Orobah for a record Cymru Premier League fee of about £190,000. The striker was Welsh football’s leading scorer last season with 22 goals and has helped TNS to secure a place in the Europa Conference League group stage.

The manager who took Sol Bamba to Cardiff City has joined the emotional tributes to the former Bluebirds fan favourite, who had died at the age of 39. Neil Warnock – who took a chance on Bamba when he was without a club and was rewarded when Bamba helped Cardiff win promotion to the Premier League – has spoken of his heartbreak over Bamba’s sudden passing.

Alex Robertson came up through the Manchester City ranks rubbing shoulders with the likes of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer but now he’s just looking forward to his first 90 minutes of Championship action. The Scottish-born, Australian-raised midfielder signed a four year deal with Cardiff City in the summer, leaving the Etihad for £1m after six years in the light blue camp.

The New Saints manager Craig Harrison has paid tribute to his players after they became the first Welsh domestic league club to qualify for a major European competition group stage. The Saints have written a new page in Welsh football history after they beat FK Panevezys on aggregate.