Wales manager Robert Page insists he has no worries over the fitness of Gareth Bale after naming him as World Cup captain – but admits the selection of Joe Allen is much more of a gamble. Page has named a squad of 26 the tournament in Qatar that shows few, if any, surprises, but reflects his faith in the group of players who have overturned 64 years of history in a successful qualification campaign. Bale is there as skipper, even though there are still doubts voiced by the man himself over how near full fitness he is after a stop-start period in the United States with Los Angeles FC.

Russell Martin understands the frustration and criticism levelled at his team, but he believes that his side are at the beginning of their journey and will learn from these tough tests. Troy Deeney rescued a deserved point for Birmingham after Matt Grimes looked like inspiring Swansea to a comeback win in a 2-2 draw at […]

Cardiff City’s Caretaker manager Mark Hudson’s future is almost sealed, until the end of the season, but he insists his side must improve following a disappointing defeat against Hull. Two goals in as many second-half minutes from Regan Slater earned Liam Rosenior his first win as Hull boss as his side came from behind to […]

By Gareth James Newport is once again being gripped by cup fever and three days after reaching the second round of the FA Cup, Graham Coughlan’s Exiles are ready to go toe-to-toe with Premier League side Leicester City.  Tonight’s third round tie in the Carabao Cup is the chance for the ‘Amber Army’ to celebrate a […]

Russell Martin has admitted Swansea City are shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to their home form. For the second time in three games in front of their own fans, the Swans went 2-0 behind before rescuing themselves. Against Reading, Martin’s men came back to win 3-2, but the Wigan reprieve was only partial and they had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

World Cup hopeful Mark Harris is both fit and firing goals according to his Cardiff City boss Mark Hudson. Harris scored the only goal of the game as the Bluebirds won 1-0 at Sunderland, a result which strengthened both Harris’s hope of going to Qatar with Wales, as well as Hudson’s hope of being named permanent manager. It was a result which lifted Cardiff into 14th place in the Championship table, four points clear of the relegation zone and seven adrift of the play-off places.

Merthyr Town are dreaming of FA Cup glory this weekend – and a bumper pay day around the corner which could secure their long-term future. The Martyrs’ manager Paul Michael is hoping success against FA Cup first round opponents Buxton FC can help protect the club for future generations. Merthyr reached the first round proper following a tense 2-1 win against Folkstone Invicta, in front of a raucous 1,457 strong home support at Penydarren Park.

Newport County take a break from league action this weekend as they enter the potential giant-killing fields of the FA Cup, so perhaps it’s time to take stock. James Rowberry’s exit from the Rodney Parade hot seat last month had an air on inevitability about it. Rowberry remains an exciting young manager with a progressive footballing philosophy – and a classy character, as his gracious departing letter to the club demonstrated – but he was ultimately unable to cut the mustard in such an unforgiving division as League Two.

Mark Hudson has admitted individual errors are undermining Cardiff City’s attempts to stay clear of the Championship relegation zone. Two goals conceded from corner kicks led to the Bluebirds going down to a fourth defeat in five matches on Wednesday night when they lost 2-1 at home to Watford. The result leaves Cardiff in 18th place in the table. But they are only a point above the relegation zone in a crowded bottom section where eight clubs are separated by just two points.

Russell Martin insists he is unconcerned by Swansea City’s first defeat in four games that has stalled their promotion push The Swans lost 1-0 at Preston on Tuesday night to make it one point gathered from their last two games, having previously won six out of seven. The defeat leaves them in sixth place in the Championship but they could drop out of the play-off places if either Watford or Millwall win on Wednesday night.

By Gareth james Russell Martin is banking on Dutch ace Joel Piroe coming back with a bang for Swansea City at Preston on Tuesday night. Star striker Piroe returns to the squad after a three-match ban for his red card in the 4-0 defeat at Burnley. That is the only defeat the Swansea have suffered […]

By David Williams Wales’ World Cup group opponents Iran are facing a last-ditch attempt to kick them out of the tournament. The Ukrainian Association of Football has called for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup in Qatar. The UAF’s executive committee says it has made a request to global governing body FIFA to […]

Wales will consider changing its name to Cymru on the international stage after the World Cup. Cymru – the Welsh name for Wales – is already used by the Football Association of Wales in its internal and external communications and by staff at the governing body’s headquarters in the Vale of Glamorgan. The FAW plans to speak to various stakeholders in Welsh football about the merit of changing the country’s name in international competition, while the PA news agency can reveal informal discussions have already been held with UEFA on the subject.

Swansea City aim to prove there are the high noon specialists when they visit Bristol City for another midday kick-off on Saturday. Having beaten rivals Cardiff City, 2-0, last Sunday, the Swans have already proved themselves top dogs in Wales and now they are anxious to take a bite out of their second-nearest neighbours in the West Country. Russell Martin’s side have established an astonishing dominance in the South Wales derby with three consecutive victories against the Bluebirds, and six wins out of the last eight meetings, during which they have scored 15 goals to the Bluebirds’ one.

Wales manager Robert Page has insisted Gareth Bale will wear a OneLove armband at the World Cup in Qatar – regardless of any threatened FIFA sanctions. Page has said the stance taken is one agreed by the players, including captain Bale, as well as the Football Association of Wales’ staff. Both Wales and England’s association officials have written to FIFA requesting they be allowed to wear the armbands in Qatar, but no reply has yet been forthcoming.

By Gareth James Former Wales manager Brian Flynn has paid tribute to John Toshack, for sowing the seeds that helped Wales’ incredible rise, from perennial underachievers to consistent major tournament appearances. To start the countdown to the World Cup, S4C will show a special film directed by Jonny Owen, called Cewri Cwpan y Byd (World […]

Nottingham Forest’s Welsh boss Steve Cooper has been charged by the Football Association over comments made about referee Thomas Bramall following his side’s defeat at Wolves last weekend. Cooper said Bramall was known for being inconsistent after the 1-0 Premier League loss at Molineux where both sides had a penalty awarded after VAR intervention, while there was another incident in the first half Ruben Neves scored Wolves’ while Forest’s Wales’ star Brennan Johnson saw his effort saved by Jose Sa.

Wrexham have been heavily criticised on social media for their decision to ban the boots of striker Paul Mullin. Mullin will not wear his controversial new boots which featured an X-rated message for the Conservatives. The 11-goal forward had posted an image on Instagram of the boots, with ‘f*** the Tories’ printed on the side of them.

Russell Martin has revealed he warned his players not to lose their heads before the South Wales derby because he believed a bare-knuckle scrap would suit Cardiff City more than Swansea. The Swans head coach insisted on cool heads prior to the club’s 2-0 victory on Sunday, which was another one-sided encounter from the moment Bluebirds striker Callum Robinson was sent off in the seventh minute. Martin – like his opposite number Mark Hudson – was at a loss to explain Robinson’s decision to throw the ball into the face of Ben Cabango from point blank range, but said he had  issued his own messages before kick-off.

Russell Martin was a Braveheart Scotland international and it’s bravery that his Swansea City defender Harry Darling reckons will prove decisive in the Welsh derby against Cardiff City this Sunday. Current Swans head coach Martin hails from Brighton and hardly fits the mould as a rugged, thistle-clad no-nonsense Scottish defender, but it’s not physical bravery that Darling is talking about. As a player, Martin was a more of a thinker than a thumper and his coaching buzzwords of “courage” and “bravery” are not about sticking your head in where it hurts.