Gemma Grainger: Wales want to appoint successor before April
- Published
Gemma Grainger was appointed Wales manager in March 2021 in succession to former boss Jayne Ludlow
Football Association of Wales [FAW] chief executive Noel Mooney says Wales hope to appoint a new manager before the start of Euro 2025 qualifying.
Mooney admits Gemma Grainger's decision to quit Wales to take over the Norway national team came as a "surprise," and a "big disappointment," for the FAW.
Grainger signed a new Wales deal until 2027 last year and Norway will pay the FAW compensation for appointing her.
"It's a vital appointment for us to get right," Mooney told BBC Sport Wales.
"We need to find the best person out there, whoever she or he might be, to lead this team to Euro 2025.
"The interest around the national team has really grown and we see this as an opportunity for us to grow and bring in a really progressive coach who goes on and does great things here.
"It's really important we get this appointment right. We feel the burden of responsibility on our shoulders of making sure we provide this group of players with the best possible manager to lead them through to the Euros."
A decision has not yet been finalised as to if any of Gemma Grainger's coaching staff will leave with her and join Norway
Timeline set for next appointment
Wales' players will meet for a camp in February with the FAW set to announce an interim coaching team to take charge.
They will bid to appoint a permanent successor before April when Euro 2025 qualifying begins.
"Our prime target is to appoint the right person, that is the most important thing, but in an ideal world we will have the right person in, in time for the April camp," Mooney said.
"We would like to go into the April camp with the manager who leads Cymru through to a first major tournament in our history.
"No time is ever good, none of us wanted Gemma to go anywhere. We were happy that she was here, we made the effort to keep her.
"Now that it has happened, it's our job to deal with the reality and not what we would like to happen. The reality is that we do have some time to make the right appointment. It's not a huge window, obviously until April. It's mid-January now and to get someone in by the end of March is quite a race for us.
"We've got a bit of time and I really hope we get the right person.
"If there was a time to pick, which it is now, it's not the worst timing in the world. We feel the pressure to get the right person and to try and fill those big shoes, that Gemma has vacated."
Gemma Grainger: 'No hiding our disappointment' over Wales boss' exit, says Noel Mooney
'Surprise and disappointment' to lose Grainger
Mooney admits Wales were surprised to lose Grainger, who quits almost a year to the day after signing an improved deal until 2027.
"We were surprised by the news, I got a text from Gemma a couple of days ago asking to catch-up with her and she made me aware that Norway had offered her the job," he said.
"We have that Together Stronger mantra here and because we have invested very heavily in Gemma and the side to qualify for a first major tournament, we were on a really good journey together, all heading in the same direction, so when you get the manager call to say they are going to Norway, it is bittersweet certainly.
"Norway, whatever way you look at it, in women's football they are still a superpower, they have Ballon d'Or players and they have won the World Cup and the Euros.
"You couldn't say that Norway isn't a step forward for Gemma, it is an exciting opportunity for her, recognition of her as a very progressive, modern coach.
"But when you've got a manager that you're really invested in and bought into, [who is] going, that is disappointing, there is no other way of dressing it up, we are really disappointed she is leaving us, because we were very focused on her leading us to the European Championships in Switzerland in 2025."
Wales captain Sophie Ingle (left) and most-capped player Jess Fishlock (right) were told about the departure of Gemma Grainger (centre)
Players to be consulted over successor
Mooney revealed that he has already had discussions with several of Wales' senior players about Grainger's successor and is open-minded on the appointment.
The FAW had over 50 applicants when they chose Grainger and Mooney expects another competitive field of candidates to replace her.
"We have a very forward thinking group of players and I could already hear them yesterday thinking 'how do we go forward as a group?'" Mooney added.
"They will want to have the best coach coming in and we've given them assurances our approach will be the same as the one that saw us bring Gemma Grainger in.
"She wasn't very well known to lots of people in Welsh football when she came in, but she has progressed the side and progressed the outlook of the side.
"The players aren't involved in the recruitment of the manager, I think that's important to say.
"You try and keep the senior players in the loop of where we are.
"We've got a very talented technical side, led by [technical director] Dave Adams who worked very closely with Gemma over the years.
"Dave is very much leading the search for that, with the profile of manager we want."
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