Williams and Sheehan join Bellamy's Wales staff

What the report says

Former Wales captain Ashley Williams and former Swansea manager Alan Sheehan have joined Craig Bellamy’s Wales backroom team as assistant coaches ahead of the men’s Nations League campaign, BBC Sport Football reported. The appointments add two familiar figures to Bellamy’s staff as Wales prepare for their next international fixtures.

Williams, 42, made 86 appearances for Wales and captained the side during its run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals. BBC Sport said he has recently worked with Wales age-group camps and that this is his first senior coaching role with the national team. Sheehan, 39, previously served as Swansea’s head coach and has also held assistant roles at Swansea, Southampton and Luton Town.

The changes come after James Rowberry stepped away from the Wales coaching setup because of his commitments with Stoke City. Dutch coach Piet Cremers also left the staff in July to take charge of Club NXT, Club Brugge’s youth side. Andrew Crofts remains involved as an assistant coach.

Wales begin their Nations League A campaign in Portugal on 24 September before playing Denmark in Copenhagen on 27 September. Bellamy is due to name his squad on 15 September. More broadly, the reshuffle reflects how national-team coaching staffs often change to fit club and international commitments, especially in the build-up to major qualifying or league campaigns.