Wales No 2 under fire for ill-timed tweet

Verheijen, whose contract runs out at the end of this month, posted on Twitter on Sunday night: “Tomorrow FAW meet about future of Wales. Hopefully the board will respect Gary’s wish so Osian Roberts and myself can lead the team to Brazil. [There is] no need for new manager with new ideas. Our success was based on Gary’s clear structure. Everybody knows what to do for mission Brazil 2014.”

The 40-year-old, who has helped coach the Netherlands, Russia and South Korea, was brought into the Wales set-up shortly after Speed, who died two weeks ago, was appointed in December 2010 and had helped oversee a recent run of four wins in their last five internationals. But former Norwich and Leicester striker Roberts has criticised Verheijen’s comments. Roberts, who played alongside Speed for the national team, said: “What he put on there really left a bad taste in my mouth. Some of the things he’s posted on Twitter have absolutely shocked me. [It’s] very, very selfish. It’s just over two weeks since we lost Gary and just over 48 hours since Gary was finally put to rest. The timing’s shocking and I don’t think he should be putting his CV, if you like, on Twitter. He’s touting himself for the Welsh job.

“He’s put it out there in the public for everyone to see. That’s the thing that sits really awkward and uncomfortable with me. He’s upset and angered me in the past with some of the things he’s posted but nothing [compares with this]. Gary’s wish? I find that quite astonishing when Gary’s family are still grieving. I don’t think anybody will have a problem with them [FAW] discussing the future. Life goes on, as sad as it sounds,” added Roberts. “They will discuss how Wales now go forward after such a tragic event.”

The next game for Wales – who are in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying group – will be a friendly at the end of February, while their opening qualifier will be against Belgium on Friday, 7 September.