By Matthew Burgess The New Saints will take a slender 1-0 lead into next week’s second leg against Linfield in their Champions League first round qualifier, after Ryan Brobbel’s deft finish and a man of the match display from goalkeeper Connor Roberts secured the Cymru Premier side an encouraging victory at Park Hall. For much […]

By Matthew Burgess Australian manager Anthony Limbrick is hoping his trio of summer signings will help The New Saints overcome Northern Irish outfit Linfield on Tuesday night (7.00). It’s been a mere 65 days since Limbrick’s Saints wound up their 2021/22 season by lifting the Welsh Cup, but they return to action for what will […]

Wales international Brennan Johnson has signed a new four-year contract with Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest. Johnson, 21, scored 19 goals for Forest last season to help them earn promotion via the play-offs and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. He then went on to help Wales reach their first World Cup finals in 64 years before bagging his first international goal against Belgium last month.

Gemma Grainger insisted Wales had taken some plus points from their draw with New Zealand in Spain, even if they came away with no goals. The Wales manager watched her team draw 0-0 in a friendly in Pinatar in their last game before their crucial World Cup qualifiers in September. Grainger’s squad are continuing preparations ahead of the final two qualifiers against Greece and Slovenia, where victories can guarantee a play-off place for the tournament.

By David Williams Wales captain Sophie Ingle admits she is a “little bit” envious of Chelsea teammates preparing for Euro 2022 and who are keeping a low profile on the squad’s WhatsApp group. Midfielder Ingle has played a key role in Chelsea’s success under Emma Hayes in recent years, winning the Women’s Super League title […]

Gareth Bale has told Los Angeles FC he will see them soon in a message posted as it was announced the Wales captain is joining the Major League Soccer club. After weeks of speculation – that included the always seemingly unlikely idea that he might move from Real Madrid to play in the Championship for Cardiff City – Bale has opted to play in the United States as he prepares to lead Wales into the World Cup in Qatar later this year. The five-time Champions League winner is soon to be a free agent and is looking for a new club ahead of playing for Wales at the World Cup , which starts in November.

Gareth Bale has excited Cardiff fans by visiting the Sky Bet Championship club’s Vale of Glamorgan base on their first day of pre-season training. Bale has been linked with a move to his hometown club following the end of his nine-year stay at Real Madrid. The five-time Champions League winner is a free agent and […]

So, the Ryan Giggs Wales era has officially ended. It was an announcement which almost certainly represents a full-stop conclusion to the strained 30-year association between the Cardiffian and his national football team. The word “officially” is important here: in both practical and emotional terms Robert Page is already Wales manager.

Profits made from Wales qualifying for the World Cup – expected to be around £4m – will go into improving grassroots facilities, the Football Association of Wales have pledged. The overall commercial revenue from Wales reaching their first finals of the tournament for 64 years could be at least £10m, it has been estimated. But the guaranteed part of that income – which comes from the FIFA prize money pot – will go straight into benefitting the game at lower levels.

By Harry Corish Wales football manager Rob Page believes he has seen the future for a bucket hat-wearing young generation being inspired to get active, passionate and knowledgeable about the power of sport. Having guided his country to the World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years, Page is convinced of the effect […]

S4C will remain the home of Welsh domestic football for the next four years. The broadcaster has reached an agreement with the Football Association of Wales for exclusive coverage of the domestic men’s, women’s leagues and the Under 21 international matches until 2026. A total of 35 games per season will be shown on Sgorio, from the JD Cymru Premier, JD Welsh Cup and Nathaniel MG League Cup.

Ryan Giggs has expressed his sadness that he will not be at the 2022 World Cup after standing down as Wales manager with immediate effect. But he insists his managerial career is not over and says he intends to return to the touchline elsewhere. Giggs has been on leave from his post since November 2020 and faces a domestic violence trial in Manchester on August 8.

Russell Martin considers Swansea City have made a very shrewd investment in Harry Darling – a player the coach reckons is heading for the very top. The Swans are understood to have paid MK Dons £1.3m for 22-year-old centre back Darling, who was a key player for the Dons last season as they reached the League One play-offs. A number of clubs – rumoured to include Sheffield United and Chelsea – were also interested in signing Darling, who fits the Martin mould as player comfortable in possession who has excellent passing skills.

By Harry Corish Brennan Johnson says he had to improve his finishing to hit the goal trail for Wales. Johnson backed up his 19-goal season at Nottingham Forest by showing his scoring prowess in the Nations League. The 21-year-old scored his first Wales goal in the 1-1 home draw with Belgium on Saturday and was […]

By Paul Jones Gareth Bale says it is better Wales make their mistakes now and not at the World Cup after suffering more stoppage-time heartbreak against the Netherlands. Memphis Depay secured an eventful 3-2 Nations League victory for the Dutch in the third minute of stoppage time in Rotterdam, just seconds after Bale had equalised […]

Wales manager Robert Page wants to see an increase in World Cup squad size from 23 to 26 players. He and his players head to Qatar in November – when average temperatures are 29C – after qualifying for a first World Cup since 1958. Squads for last year’s European Championship, which Wales played in, were capped at 26.

By Graham Thomas Neco Williams has lavished praise on Rob Page for the manager’s faith in giving youngsters their opportunities with Wales. The Liverpool wing-back – who has carried his brilliant form on loan at Fulham this season onto the international stage – is one of a clutch of young Wales kids thriving under Page. […]

By Paul Jones Wales visit Holland after putting their first top-tier Nations League point on the board by drawing 1-1 with Belgium on Saturday. Holland lead the way in Group A4 with seven points from three games. Here we look at the main talking points ahead of the game at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam. […]

Rob Page praised the blossoming talent of Brennan Johnson after the Wales striker scored his first international goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Belgium. Johnson slid home Aaron Ramsey’s pass three minutes from time, to give Wales their first points in their Nations League campaign at a vibrant Cardiff City Stadium. But the Nottingham Forest star – who will be playing in the Premier League next season – had to endure an agonising VAR check for offside before the celebrations could begin.

Gareth Bale has two more games to go – Belgium on Saturday night and the Netherlands on Tuesday – before he puts his feet up and takes what he believes is a well-earned rest on a family holiday. He may not have had the most demanding of final seasons at Real Madrid – seven appearances and only 290 minutes – but the now 32-year-old fears for the future of some of his contemporaries as the demands on the world’s best players continues to grow. Bale’s time in La Liga appears to be over after a trophy laden nine-year period in the Spanish capital and he laughed as he unequivocally quashed rumours of a possible return at Getafe – “I definitely won’t be playing there.”