Was it right to sack Page?
Former Wales captain Ashley Williams:
“Time will tell if it is the right decision, I think he’s been unlucky, I’m upset for him because he’s a great guy, all the players will be upset for him as well.
“He hasn’t had the results, so there were rumours around that this might happen.
“It came down to whether they were going to give him another campaign or not. Ultimately you’ve got to qualify, but maybe Wales have become a little bit of a victim of their own success.
“He did take us to the World Cup and the Euros before that and you kind of start to think getting there is a given and it isn’t.
“I don’t think anyone is surprised, no-one feels great about this situation, everyone likes Rob Page at the FAW, the players definitely do.
Maybe we have been a little bit spoilt because we started to qualify for stuff regularly and then we didn’t qualify.”
Former Wales forward Gwennan Harries:
“I think Rob Page has done a good job, you can’t say he hasn’t with what he has achieved with this squad, but obviously the expectations are so much higher now because we’ve had a taste of it.
“With the Euros, it is easier to qualify now than it used to be, there are more places available and with those added expectations and extra spaces, we expect to be there.
“We have got a talented squad. Yes we have lost our world class, elite player in Gareth Bale, but not many teams have got someone of that quality.
“I think sometimes in games under Rob there wasn’t a different plan or an ability to adapt and it has cost us, ultimately.
“I think it was the right decision in terms of how Wales have been playing. The performances haven’t been consistent enough.”
Former Wales striker Robert Earnshaw:
“It’s a long time since someone has been sacked as manager of Wales, we can be proud of that, we’ve been doing pretty decently.
“I was a little bit shocked when I heard, in terms of the timing. A couple of months ago after the play-off game they backed him. So the timing does shock me.
“But I am not completely surprised. The last couple of years, the last year especially, it’s been very up and down. It’s not felt a comfortable ride.
“Robert Page has done an excellent job but it’s come with a lot of ups and downs.
“We have to choose the right manager to bring the best out of the players.
“We haven’t seen that consistently under Robert Page.
“You hope someone comes in as quick as possible so they can get used to things behind the scenes.”
Wales’ record scorer Helen Ward:
“I feel for Rob Page. We have a lot to thank him for. He oversaw some great, great moments. It’s a real shame for him.
“Wales need their fans’ backing and I am sure that has played a role. It can’t just be based on the games in June, because they were meaningless.
“The fan reaction has been really difficult to ignore.
“The issues go as far back as the World Cup, the performances weren’t good.
“There were so many moments in the last campaign where you thought his time was up.”
Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts:
“The writing has been on the wall. The only thing that surprises me is that they gave him both of the friendlies this month in all honesty.
“The writing has been on the wall since [FAW chief executive] Noel Mooney came out and said he was looking for other options to take over from Robert, before the Croatia game.
“After the Poland game, when we failed to reach the Euros, they could have done it then. I’m surprised they’ve done it after two friendlies. Why not give a new manager an opportunity to work with these players in those two friendlies?
“Now we will go into the Nations League, with a really tough first game against Turkey, with a new plan and a new voice.”
Former Wales striker Ian Walsh:
“He’s done remarkably well for Wales. We treat our managers and people like that sometimes diabolically – I look a lot at social media and he gets hammered on there. That’s really disrespectful and a disgrace.
“He’s achieved what he’s achieved. No other Welsh manager has done that and if we can’t hold our head up high and be very thankful for what he’s achieved, it dumbfounds me.
“They’ve allowed him to play two friendly matches – he’s had lots of injuries and we have no massive Welsh stars in the side at the moment.
“All in all I do feel sorry for Rob but I just hope he has a very good pay-out from the Welsh FA because when you’re sacked it’s not very nice and people get on your back and I for one think the Welsh FA have been very unprofessional about it.
“It’s ridiculous timing. You could have had the time with the new manager if they’d have brought somebody in. But who’s going to come in now?”
Former Wales striker Nathan Blake:
“I thought the timing was a little odd. They decided to stick with him, so I thought he’d get at least another Nations League campaign. For me it is surprising.
“Obviously the FAW were concerned the fans had turned on the manager. You are never going to satisfy everybody.
“I understand the decision. But I think what Rob has achieved is pretty special and he should be proud of that.”
Leave a Reply