Wales Faces Challenge as Craig Bellamy’s Burnley Move Falls Through
Wales finds itself in a difficult situation heading into their Nations League A campaign following the collapse of Craig Bellamy’s potential move to Burnley, according to Nathan Blake. The former Wales striker expressed concerns about the implications for the team, stating that the uncertainty surrounding Bellamy’s position may affect the players’ morale.
Initially, Bellamy, 47, appeared to be on the verge of joining Burnley as head coach this summer; however, the deal did not materialize. He remains committed to the Football Association of Wales (FAW), continuing into the third year of his four-year contract, and will lead the national squad in upcoming fixtures against Portugal, Denmark, and Norway from September to November.
“I think it puts Wales in a hard position,” Blake mentioned on the BBC’s Feast of Football podcast. His comments reflect worries that players might feel disrespected after Bellamy stated he would not leave for a club position, only for discussions with Burnley to resurface.
Wales has struggled recently, failing to secure a win in four matches this year. This includes a heart-wrenching loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the World Cup qualification playoffs in March. Just this past June, prior to friendlies against Ghana and Romania, Bellamy had confirmed his commitment to the national team despite club offers.
However, after a 1-1 draw with Ghana and a 2-1 loss to Romania, it became known that Bellamy had been in talks with Burnley, where he previously served as an assistant coach from 2022 to 2024.
With Bellamy’s potential return now off the table, Wales has experienced staff changes, including the departure of assistant coach Piet Cremers to assume the role of Club NXT’s manager and Chris Gunter stepping down as under-19s head coach to join Oxford United.
Nia Jones, a former Wales international, highlighted the challenges ahead for Bellamy. She noted, “He has got a tough job with the Nations League group, but the carrot that’s dangling is a home Euros for him.”
Wales’ Nations League campaign kicks off against Portugal in Lisbon on September 24, followed by a match against Denmark in Copenhagen three days later. The team will also face Norway and Denmark at Cardiff City Stadium in October, with their remaining fixtures scheduled for November.
Nathan Blake believes the collapse of Craig Bellamy’s proposed move to Burnley has put Wales in a “hard position” going into their Nations League A campaign.
Bellamy, 47, seemed set to be appointed as the Clarets’ head coach in the summer only for his move to Turf Moor fall through.
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He recently entered the third year of his four-year contract with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and will lead the national side against Portugal, Denmark and Norway between September and November.
But ex-Wales striker Blake has concerns over the impact Bellamy’s Burnley link could have on his players.
“It puts Wales in a hard position,” he told the BBC’s Feast of Football podcast.
“To go away and come back is tough. It’s football, people move around, but when you’re saying ‘I’m not going’, and then you [look to] go…
“You’ve got to come back after that and if you think the level of respect is going to be the same, I don’t think it is.”
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Wales are winless in four matches in 2026 and missed out on qualification for the World Cup after losing to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties in the play-off semi-finals in March.
Speaking before his side’s friendly fixtures against Ghana and Romania in June, Bellamy confirmed he had rejected club offers to commit his future to Wales.
But just weeks after the Red Dragons drew 1-1 with Ghana in Cardiff and lost 2-1 to Romania in Bucharest, it emerged that Bellamy was closing in on a return to Burnley, where he worked as an assistant to Vincent Kompany between 2022 and 2024.
Since it was confirmed Bellamy would not be joining Burnley, Wales assistant boss Piet Cremers has departed the FAW to become Club NXT boss while Chris Gunter left his role as head coach of the under-19s to join Oxford United.
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Former Wales international Nia Jones feels Bellamy has bridges to build as his side prepare for a return to competitive action next month.
“[After] Turkey, his first game, he famously said it will be the worst we’ll ever be. It gets you excited, you’d want to go to war with him,” she said.
“The Bosnia game, he said we’re going all out, but we went out. He keeps saying things, and the more you say things and don’t back it up… He has got a tough job with the Nations League group, but the carrot that’s dangling is a home Euros for him.
“He’s got a bit of making up to do now given what’s happened in the last couple of months.”
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Wales begin their Nations League campaign against Portugal in Lisbon on 24 September before facing Denmark in Copenhagen three days later.
Bellamy’s side then meet Norway and Denmark at Cardiff City Stadium in October.
The final two matches of the campaign take place in November with Wales travelling to Norway before hosting Portugal.
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