Bellamy appointment 'brilliant' for Wales - Adam

Charlie Adam and Craig Bellamy played together for Liverpool in the 2011-12 season

Craig Bellamy's former Liverpool team-mate Charlie Adam says Wales have made a "brilliant appointment" as national team head coach.

Fleetwood boss Adam believes Wales are getting "a very good manager in the making", having appointed Bellamy on a four-year deal to succeed Robert Page who was sacked in June.

The former Scotland midfielder also says his old Liverpool colleague has mellowed from their playing days at Anfield.

And having spent time with Bellamy on Vincent Kompany's backroom staff at Burnley before landing his own managerial job, the Scot is glowing about Bellamy's coaching credentials.

"I think it's an excellent appointment," said Adam.

"I was very lucky to spend 18 months at Burnley before I got the Fleetwood job, so I played with Craig, but also getting to know him as a coach, how he understands the games, how he seen the game with Vincent. He sees the game different from a lot of people and Wales are getting a very good manager in the making.

"It's a brilliant appointment for Wales, a real student of the game, the way he speaks about the game, the way he dissects the game and builds a game up is really, really positive and I think that this group of players and these supporters have got a manager that's proud to be Welsh, but also very, very good at understanding how the game works as well."

During his playing career, Bellamy's forthright - sometimes fiery - character landed him in trouble on and off the field.

The former Wales captain has already addressed that since being handed his first permanent head coaching role.

Speaking to the media in his first press conference as Wales boss Bellamy said: "Hopefully after a few months or a couple of years you’ll have a good understanding that the temperament is fine now and I'll have experience, hopefully that will dismiss it."

Adam says his former team-mate has learned to remain calm.

"You have to, because ultimately the players look at you on the touchline and if you're calm then you feel it in the team," said the 44-year-old, whose playing career also took in Rangers, Blackpool and Stoke City.

"If you are irate and you're emotional then your team start playing emotionally and they make mistakes and it's important, that.

"I was surprised when I went in - knowing him as a player it's totally different - but he's been a coach a long time in terms of how he's worked, he is mellow.

"But again when there's a line and there's a standard that's not met then he will demand from the players and ultimately that's what you want as a player.

"You want your coach to demand for you. You want to be open and honest with him and they'll get that and I think that's a real positive as well for him."

Craig Bellamy won 78 caps for Wales while Charlie Adam played 26 internationals for Scotland

Bellamy took his first steps in coaching with Cardiff City's academy before serving as assistant manager to former Manchester City team-mate Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht and then Burnley, where Adam was a loan players manager and U23 coach.

He says there is one aspect of Bellamy that has not changed over the years - his dedication and commitment. The Fleetwood boss expects his former colleague to be hands on in his new role, even with relatively few games on the schedule for an international manager.

"Craig will be putting his heart and soul into this," said Adam.

"He still lives in the area so he's embraced in where it's going to be.

"He'll be there on a daily basis and I think that's the connection that the Welsh FA, but also the clubs and also the players, will want.

"He'll be at plenty of games, he'll be going around the clubs and he'll have his ideas with what he thinks is right for this group of players going forward.

"He demands a lot which is great, he has a standard that he wants to do things and I think the Wales national team will be really happy once they get into camp and they get understanding of how he wants to work."