Toshack ready to call it a day

Soccer: The Football Association of Wales have called a press conference for Thursday afternoon when manager John Toshack is…

Soccer:The Football Association of Wales have called a press conference for Thursday afternoon when manager John Toshack is expected to announce his resignation. Toshack is understood to feel he has taken Wales as far as he can following Friday's 1-0 defeat by Montenegro in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier.

The 61-year-old will be present at the press conference along with FAW president Phil Pritchard and chief executive Jonathan Ford.

Toshack, who has been in charge of Wales since November 2004, spent yesterday at the FAW headquarters in Cardiff and the only question now appears to be whether he will leave the post before or after the double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

Ryan Giggs is the early favourite with bookmakers to replace Toshack but it is thought unlikely the Manchester United winger would want to take on the role while he is still playing at the highest level.

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Under-21s boss Brian Flynn and Mark Bowen are among other names being mentioned as potential successors to Toshack. There had been optimism this could be the campaign in which the Wales squad came of age but Friday’s performance was a hugely disappointing start.

With England hot favourites to win Group G, Toshack admitted another defeat by Bulgaria next month would leave Wales without “too much chance” of making it to Poland and Ukraine in 2012.