Soccer:John Toshack today resigned as Wales manager. The 61-year-old announced at a press conference this afternoon he was stepping down from the post he has held since 2004 with immediate effect.
Toshack’s position had been the subject of considerable scrutiny since Wales were beaten in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro last Friday.
Toshack said he hoped his decision to leave his post as Wales manager early will help keep alive their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012.
“Wales are still very much in this group, and now the decision has been made hopefully they’ll be able to get some positive results in the next two games,” Toshack said.
“If the results do go against us, I think I would have preferred that to happen with me still in charge.”
The Football Association of Wales confirmed the decision for Toshack to step down had been reached by mutual agreement.
Toshack said he had been prepared to continue until after next month’s qualifiers against Switzerland and Bulgaria, when he revealed both parties had agreed to review the situation.
However, it was felt in the best interests of the national side that he should leave now.
Toshack said: “I thought after three matches of this group we would review everything. Even after the disappointment of the game in Montenegro that was still the way I felt. But we have come to the agreement that this might be better for everyone concerned.”
Toshack admitted he had begun to grow concerned after a friendly loss in Croatia in May, when his squad was decimated by the unavailability of a number of players and a raft of withdrawals.
He added: “I was disappointed by one or two things. Four were involved in the play-off final but some of the others I felt could have been there.
“I spoke to the president about reviewing it after the first few games but it is generally felt a change would be in the best interests of everyone.”
Toshack added that a decision has only been made in the past day as he travelled to Sofia to watch Wales’ group rivals Bulgaria and Montenegro play on Tuesday.