Darcy Blake open to Wales backroom staff changes

Defender Darcy Blake has played in the last five Wales internationals

Darcy Blake insists the whole Wales squad will be behind Chris Coleman even if the new national team manager wanted to change his backroom staff.

and captain Aaron Ramsey have called for Gary Speed's assistants Raymond Verheijen and Osian Roberts to retain their positions.

Coleman said he would try the current backroom set-up but hinted friend Kit Symons could join his coaching team.

Blake said: "We'll all be behind him as he's the manager of our country."

Cardiff City defender Blake was a key part of Speed's team that won four of their last five games, helping Wales make the biggest leap in the Fifa rankings in 2011 as they moved to 48th place from 113th in the world.

The 23-year-old did say he would like to see Dutch coach Verheijen, who has helped coach the Netherlands, Russia and South Korea at World Cups, and Roberts continue in the Wales set-up.

But asked about the make-up of Wales' backroom team, Blake said: "It's up to the new manager now and whatever he chooses is fine with me and the rest of the players.

"We all want to play for our country, no matter who is the manager.

"We're going to play, do our best and give 100% for the manager and Wales.

"To me the commitment would be the same and for every other player it would be the same because it is a great honour to play for your country.

"If he wanted to change the system, we'd adapt and still give it everything."

Former Fulham manager Coleman has signed a contract until the end of the 2014 World Cup with the Football Association of Wales.

He will meet his new squad before the Gary Speed Memorial friendly match against Costa Rica at Cardiff on 29 February.

"He did a decent job at Fulham," added centre-back Blake, who won six of his eight Wales caps in Speed's short reign.

"It is an exciting challenge and I'm looking forward to the next game."