Good morning! The national teams are back in the headlines following Ryan Giggs’ resignation last night, while Gemma Grainger has announced the latest women’s squad. Let’s get on with today’s notebook…
Ryan Giggs has finally resigned from his position as Wales manager. (BBC Sport Wales / FAW)
NOTES: A mere 77-word statement from the FAW in response to Ryan Giggs’ announcement last night felt wholly appropriate.
It’s been 19 months since Giggs first stepped aside and he finally leaves the FAW via the backdoor. Giggs states he did not want the country’s preparations for the World Cup to be affected, but he had already hung around for too long, at risk of casting a negative shadow over a golden era for the Welsh football.
It’s important to clearly acknowledge that Giggs is innocent until proven otherwise – nonetheless the charges he faces are serious and make for grim reading.
Many, myself included, will be asking why didn’t he make the decision to walk away much sooner? Given the severity of the circumstances, you would like to think that out of respect for Robert Page and the players – if nothing else – Giggs would’ve left his role to remove any lingering uncertainty around his future.
Given how successfully Page has stepped up and grown into the job under the circumstances, if Giggs harboured any intention of ever returning to his role, it would be pretty clear who the fans would want in charge.
Giggs will be remembered for putting his own interests in retaining his role ahead of the interests of the national team, at the risk of destabilising them as they headed into Euro 2020 and beyond. And for that alone, there would’ve been a collective sigh of relief when last night’s news finally broke. Good riddance.
In more upbeat news, Wales women’s boss Gemma Grainer believes Wales’ potential is endless as she named her squad for the upcoming friendly against New Zealand and a two-day development squad that will work before the main squad joins up. (Clwb Pel Droed)
Sgorio have agreed a new four-year agreement to show domestic football and Under-21 games. (FAW)
NOTES: This is great news, particularly for the Cymru Leagues who sorely lack media coverage. The new deal will see Sgorio broadcast a minimum of 35 domestic matches each season across the domestic game until the 2025/26 campaign. No other media organisation has come anywhere close to showing the level of commitment and genuine interest Sgorio have for the domestic game – and for that, they should be applauded.
Even with Sgorio, there is a void in general media coverage that needs to be filled to allow the Cymru Leagues to reach a wider audience. A ‘magic wand scenario’ would be for the likes of BBC Sport Wales and prominent newspapers across Wales to also provide more extensive coverage, but that seems unlikely to change.
The first round for the Nathaniel MG Cup takes place tonight at 7pm and will be broadcast online. Caersws and Denbigh Town are the two wildcard entrants joining the Tier 2 clubs in the draw. More on this tomorrow. (Cymru Leagues)
Bala Town are asking fans of both the Lakesiders and Sligo Rovers to declare their interest ahead of attending their Europa Conference League tie. (Official club Twitter)
Meanwhile, Kieran Smith is let loose with a mic in anticipation of that tie. (Sgorio)
Connah’s Quay have announced the signing of striker Joe Makin. The 23-year-old arrives from Nantwich Town of the Northern Premier Division. “He’s a good young talent with great potential. He’s quick, athletic, powerful and can score goals whilst playing as a lone striker as a two or anywhere across front three,” revealed manager Craig Harrison.
Experienced defender/midfielder Danny Harrison has agreed a new contract with Flint Town United. (Official club Twitter)
Long-serving Aberystwyth Town official Tom Crocket provides a detailed pre-season update from Park Avenue. (Radio Aber)
The Welsh Football Notebook 