Wales wanted Man Utd legend Roy Keane as manager in JUNE as national chief secretly plots to remove Rob Page
WALES wanted Roy Keane to replace Robert Page as their manager in June.
SunSport can reveal Keane is hugely admired by Footall Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney.
Irishman Mooney believes countryman Keane is ideal and championed his case after Wales’ 4-2 Euro 2024 qualifier home loss to Armenia in June.
But Mooney was talked down by other senior members of the Welsh hierarchy, who called for the FAW to support Page for the rest of the qualifying campaign.
Ex-midfielder Keane has not held a coaching role for over four years since his brief stint with Nottingham Forest in 2019.
The 52-year-old has managed Sunderland and Ipswich as well as being assistant manager with Ireland and Aston Villa before.
Mooney has stated Wales will review Page’s position if they do not qualify for Euro 2024 automatically.
Page, whose side are currently three matches unbeaten, has a contract which runs until 2026 but the Dragons are fourth in Group D ahead of Sunday’s must-win home clash against Croatia in Cardiff.
Mooney issued a public vote of confidence to Page following the back-to-back summer defeats to Armenia and Turkey.
But SunSport understands Mooney has been privately plotting to remove the national manager, who signed a four-year contract before last year’s World Cup finals, because he prefers a bigger name in the hotseat.
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As well as being vocal about his admiration for Keane, even before the 2-0 win in Latvia last month, it is believed Mooney was preparing the ground for a change.
Mooney worked previously at the FA of Ireland and was a fan of the appointment of Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni, who had been boss of AC Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Italy.
As reported last month, sources at the FAW have indicated Mooney’s high risk strategy had banked on Wales reaching major tournaments and copying the success of qualifying for the Euros in 2016 and 2020 as well as Qatar.
Wales have been cost-cutting on hotel stays and opposition analysis in recent times and it is questionable that the FAW have the finances to stump up a compensation package for Page and then bring in a new boss that can take the country – without the retired Gareth Bale – forward to Mooney’s expectations.
Page is well-liked among Wales’ players and staff with captain Aaron Ramsey repeatedly supportive of his national manager.
But Mooney is keen to move the focus on the manager’s position and take the attention away from his own role within the watching eyes of the FAW.