The Football Association of Wales are lining up a bold move to bring in Chris Coleman as Mark Hughes successor as several key players have voiced concerns about frontrunner John Toshack.

Many members of the current squad are unhappy with Toshack’s criticisms of the Hughes regime as a television pundit and are reportedly ready to consider their international futures should the Real Madrid boss be given the job. Today’s Times suggests that Coleman has emerged as a compelling alternative candidate after his success in guiding Fulham to ninth place in the Premier League during his first full season in management.

Coleman, a popular member of the Welsh squad in his playing days is still close to a number of the current senior squad, and would be an enterprising appointment. But he has previously dismissed any chance of him taking the international job this early in his career and intends to remain loyal to Fulham, who gave him a surprise opportunity to succeed Jean Tigana in 2003.

Matching Coleman’s Craven Cottage salary would also prove a tough hurdle for the FAW to overcome. The Times suggests that Coleman is paid around £600,000 a year at Fulham – which is low by the standards of top flight managers but would still be double what Hughes earned when he was in charge of the national side.