By Paul Jones Brennan Johnson proved once again that he is the man to lead Wales into a new era, following the team’s disappointing World Cup appearance in Qatar. The poor World Cup showing saw Wales drop down form 19th to 28th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, after picking up just one point in […]

By David Williams Southampton manager Nathan Jones hopes to see his early work rewarded in the Carabao Cup as he makes a belated bow at St Mary’s. Welshman Jones, was unveiled as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s successor just before the World Cup break, with the Rhondda native’s only game in charge to date being a 3-1 Premier […]

Russell Martin admitted he was left feeling conflicted by Swansea City’s performance at Coventry City – “proud” of their comeback in a 3-3 draw, but angry at elements within the first hour he branded “a disgrace.” The Swans head coach watched his team go 3-0 down at the CBS Arena and questioned their commitment levels. Jonathan Panzo headed home before second-half strikes from Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres put Coventry in total control. But in the final 22 minutes, the visitors turned things around to claim a point through goals from Joel Piroe, Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen.

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has urged people not to forget the “human side” of the Emiliano Sala dispute – whilst continuing to argue the club are right not to pay up. The club have been placed under a transfer embargo after failing to pay the first instalment of the fee owed to Ligue 1 club Nantes for Sala. Sala died in a plane crash in the English Channel as he travelled to Cardiff after signing for the club in £15 million deal in January 2019. The pilot of the flight, David Ibbotson, also died.

Cardiff City and Blackpool face a tougher survival battle this season than last, according to Tangerines boss Michael Appleton. The Bluebirds host Blackpool on Saturday in a relegation battle that is likely to see one or other – or even both – in the Championship relegation zone over the Christmas period. Mark Hudson’s Cardiff are currently in 20th position, but just a point above the relegation zone, while Blackpool are two points worse off and just one place off the bottom.

Russell Martin has revealed he has yet to open any talks about extending his deal as head coach at Swansea City. Martin has 20 months left on his contract after signing a three-year deal when he succeeded Steve Cooper in charge in August 2021. The 36-year-old has earned widespread admiration for the work he has done at the Swans, particularly their playing style, but has insisted his priority is nailing down new deals for some of his key players rather than his own future.

By David Williams A Nottingham Forest fan alleged to have been stamped on by former Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie has claimed he was singled out and attacked after telling the star: “You’re s*** at football, I’m better than you.” George Brinkley told Nottingham Magistrates’ Court he genuinely feared for his life after being put […]

By Gareth James Osian Roberts knew Morocco would make an impact at this World Cup – he just didn’t know it would be this huge. The Welshman who was a key part of the Wales set-up as assistant manager when Chris Coleman was in charge, spent three years as Morocco’s technical director before returning to […]

Russell Martin claimed Norwich City’s players apologised for leaving with all three points after their 1-0 victory. It was a strange revelation, given that the Canaries scored the only goal of the game and for the most part dealt quite comfortably with what the Swans could throw at them. Martin’s side had 65 per cent possession and attempted 17 shots, but as Spain have found to their cost in the World Cup, statistics – particularly those around possession and passing – do no not always equate to an ability to win matches or even score.

Cardiff City manager Mark Hudson has heaped praise on young striker Kion Etete after his role in the Bluebirds’ 2-2 draw at Stoke City. The 21-year-old – who moved to Cardiff from Cheltenham in the summer for £500,000 – came on as a second-half substitute when Hudson’ side were 2-1 down. Within two minutes, Callum Robson had scored the equaliser for Cardiff who resumed their Championship campaign by avoiding a third successive defeat.

Joe Allen is fit and available for Swansea City, despite claims by head coach Russell Martin that his midfielder played too many minutes against England at the World Cup. The Wales star returned from Qatar having suffered more hamstring problems during the final group stage game, where he played 81 minutes before being substituted. Allen had gone to the tournament with major doubts over his fitness, but managed to recover sufficiently to come on and play 13 minutes in the second match against Iran.

Rubin Colwill will go straight from the World Cup finals to a tough-looking Championship match for Cardiff City away to Stoke City on Saturday. Bluebirds manager Mark Hudson has confirmed that Colwill is available for the club’s resumption of their campaign, despite having spent the past month with Wales at the tournament in Qatar as well as the build-up. Colwill only played nine minutes at the tournament, when he came on as a substitute during the late stages of the 3-0 defeat to England.

Football in Wales is set to go ahead on the day of the King’s coronation on May 6. The Football Association of Wales cancelled all fixtures on the weekend following the death of the Queen in September, receiving criticism in particular for the decision to prevent children from playing by postponing youth-team matches. But there will be no repeat when Charles is crowned at Westminster Abbey, with the JD Cymru Premier play-offs to determine European qualification among the fixtures due to take place in Wales that day.

By Paul Jones Cardiff City and Swansea City continue their preparation, as the Sky Bet Championship is set to make a return following the World Cup break. EFL chief executive, and former Swansea City Chairman Trevor Birch feels the recent experiment of a first ‘Innovation Game’ can only have helped showcase the league’s unique selling […]

Former Wales captain Ieuan Evans could wield the knife on Wayne Pivac next week – even though he has seen before the disaster it threatens. Just a week into his new job as chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union, Evans must help decide the fate of head coach Pivac. With Warren Gatland also being tapped up by England, Evans knows the WRU must move fast if they decide to dump Pivac after a wretched 2022 in which the New Zealander won just three out of 12 matches.

By Hannah Blackwell His eyes welling up, Roberto Martinez said his goodbyes and left, his next whereabouts unknown. It is the end of an era for Belgium’s golden generation. But for the former Swansea City manager who led the Red Devils to third place at the 2018 World Cup, it is the beginning of something […]

Connor Roberts insists the future for Wales is still bright – whatever happens to the older generation of stars for whom the World Cup could be a final curtain call. The Wales defender claims the current crop of Wales players under the age of 30 can continue to ensure the nation regularly qualifies for the finals of major tournaments. The futures of Gareth Bale, 33, Aaron Ramsey, 32 this month, Joe Allen, 32, and 35-year-old Wayne Hennessey have been under the spotlight since Wales finished bottom of Group B in Qatar, with a single point from one draw and two defeats.

Gareth Bale & co may have been dominating the hearts and minds of Welsh sports fans with their efforts in Qatar, but Cardiff City will grab the limelight on Wednesday night when the club hosts a special tribute match to honour one of their all-time greats. Peter Whittingham was at the heart of everything that was good about the Bluebirds for more than a decade, a period during which the club reached a League Cup final, a Play-off Final, an FA Cup Final and, finally, the promised land of the Premier League. His achievements and statistics – 96 goals in 457 games – will stand the test of time, especially in the ultra-professional modern era.

Gareth Bale insists he wants to carry on playing for his country but the real question now is whether his country needs him. As Wales’ World Cup journey came to an end, Bale and the rest of the squad stood and applauded their fans, packed into a small section behind the goal at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, a venue that holds few memories, only promises of a bright, shiny space-age future. But what future for this Wales team, their foot soldiers and their decorated generals, following a 3-0 defeat to England and the end of an underwhelming campaign in Qatar.

You know that sporting cliché, “We need a miracle.” Well, Wales need two. To stay in the World Cup, to make it out of the group stages and into the excitement of the knockout round of 16 in Qatar, Wales need two things to happen.