Coleman hints at Wales exit

Chris Coleman has hinted that he may quit his job as Wales manager following the country's World Cup exit at the hands of Ireland.

James McClean scored the only goal of the game at the Cardiff City Stadium as Ireland leap-frogged Wales to claim second spot in World Cup Qualifier Group D and a place in next month's play-offs.

And Coleman, who led his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 last summer, says he may call time on his near six-year tenure as Wales' boss following the defeat.

Coleman took over as Wales' manager in January 2012 following the death of Gary Speed, and signed a two-year contract extension in May 2016.

"It's six years I’ve been in charge, or coming up to it at Christmas, and I can't say right now about my future because I'm not thinking about it," he said.

"I'm thinking about the fact there's a dressing room full of devastated players and staff.

"The whole nation will be mourning and disappointed because, again, that elusive World Cup has passed us by. 

"There’s a chance I can [stay] and a chance I won't. I can't give an answer right now. 

"There will be a conversation in due course and there's a friendly next month. My contract is until the summer but right now I'm thinking about the experience, I'll go back to my family and take a bit of time. When the dust settles we’ll see where we go."

Coleman admits that Wales struggled to deal with the loss of Gareth Bale, who withdrew from the squad last week with a calf injury, and Joe Allen, who was substituted with a head injury after a collision with Ireland captain David Meyler.

"I thought, on the balance of play, we pretty much dominated the first half. But we knew Ireland would have a gameplan and they executed it very well," the 47-year-old said .

"They hit us the counter-attack, a sucker punch, so hats off to them.

"Once you lose Joe Allen, and we were already without Gareth, then our creativity suffers a little bit. There were 10 men behind the ball really and we found that hard to break down."

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