Wales FA chief drops strong hint about Craig Bellamy’s future

A key figure at the Welsh Football Association (FAW) has dropped a strong hint that Craig Bellamy could soon be about to depart - amid strong speculation linking him with Burnley.

The 46-year-old is the leading favourite to take over at Turf Moor from Scott Parker, who left the club by mutual consent in April.

Recent reports suggest the Clarets have made an official approach to the Welsh FA and they’re already beginning the job of identifying a replacement.

Burnley simply state the club’s search, which is about to reach two months, is “ongoing”.

But Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Welsh FA, has dropped the strongest hint yet that Bellamy could be the man to take over.

"Craig has been fantastic for us in terms of the football we play and the energy we have,” he said in an interview with S4C News.

“But of course, we have to be aware of the fact that we are in a huge football industry and that people have different objectives.

“In my opinion, Craig will go on to be a world-class coach. He loves the rhythm and intensity of football on a day-to-day basis, so the problem we have always had with him is the gaps between the international windows.

“He is someone who is full of energy and lives and breathes football. He loves the game, he loves his country, and that shone through very clearly during his time with us - that he loves Welsh football.

“We were always open to the fact that people have personal ambition, that opportunities arise, and sometimes that someone has done something great in an organisation and then another opportunity presents itself.”

If the move comes to fruition, it will present a major U-turn for Bellamy, who appeared to commit his future to Wales at the start of June - stating he’s going nowhere and will see out the remaining two years of his contract, and was excited about the prospect of leading his country to a home Euros.

He did, however, joke about the poor pay during a press conference ahead of their recent friendly against Ghana. He also admitted he “missed” the day-to-day nature of coaching in club football.

Bellamy is known to be well admired by Burnley’s board, having worked as assistant to Vincent Kompany from 2022 to 2024.

He was in the running for the job when Kompany left to join Bayern Munich, but Scott Parker was instead appointed while Bellamy swiftly took over as Wales boss.