Wales trust Bellamy will stay despite Burnley manager job offer

Wales' football bosses believe Craig Bellamy will remain as national team coach despite interest from Premier League club Burnley.

Bellamy’s contract status The Football Association of Wales leadership expresses strong confidence that Craig Bellamy will continue as the men’s national team manager. This comes despite potential interest from Burnley following Scott Parker’s exit. The club Bellamy is familiar with has not yet made an official request to the FAW. However, informal discussions about the vacancy have reportedly taken place with Bellamy. ## Club ties and past role Burnley is a team Craig Bellamy knows from his coaching career. The 46-year-old worked alongside current Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany when Kompany led Burnley. Bellamy served as an assistant coach during that period. ## FAW’s assurance on future After multiple conversations with the former Wales captain, senior figures in Welsh football remain convinced Bellamy will stay in his current role until his contract expires in 2028. The primary motivation appears to be his ambition to lead the team at Euro 2028. Wales will co-host the tournament alongside England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland. ## Bellamy’s managerial record Craig Bellamy has enjoyed his time as Wales manager, securing his first senior managerial position with a four-year contract signed in July 2024. He received widespread acclaim for a nine-game unbeaten start. Under his guidance, Wales climbed to the top tier of the Nations League and adopted a more aggressive, attacking style. His tenure has also seen challenges, including the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign ending in disappointment. ## World Cup qualifying struggles Wales failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, suffering defeats against Belgium that cost them progression. The team then lost in the play-off semi-finals to Bosnia-Herzegovina in March at home. These results marked a setback in their qualifying campaign for the major tournament. ## Ambitions beyond national team While Bellamy enjoys his role with Wales, he has openly expressed a desire to manage at the highest level of club football. The FAW is aware of interest from clubs other than Burnley but has a safeguard in place. A release clause in his contract requires any interested club to pay at least £700,000 to secure his services. ## Potential Burnley candidates Burnley’s managerial vacancy has drawn attention from several figures. Former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard has been strongly linked with the position. Brian Barry-Murphy, currently head coach of Cardiff City, is also mentioned as a possible contender for the role.