Chris Coleman could stay as Wales manager after admitting seeing someone else as boss would ‘leave a bad taste’
Chris Coleman has hinted he is prepared to stay on as Wales manager after the current World Cup campaign by admitting that seeing someone else in the role would "leave a bad taste".
Coleman said after leading Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 that this campaign would be his last in charge of the national team.
But his assistant Osian Roberts has revealed he will try and persuade Coleman to stay on - and the former Fulham and Real Sociedad boss concedes that it is a tough job to give up.
"The thought of handing it over and someone else standing there instead of me doesn't sit well," Coleman said ahead of Austria's crunch visit to Cardiff.
"That someone could be stood there doing it instead of me leaves a real bad taste.
"I go to games at the weekend and I'm sitting there a bit envious watching other managers, I do miss the day-to-day work.
"The trade-off I have is that I'm manager of Wales, watching the boys singing the national anthem in Cardiff and the atmosphere.
"I'm there watching it and fronting that. I thrive on that."
Coleman has been linked with several club jobs in his time as Wales manager, most notably Hull last season when the Tigers were in the Premier League.
But he has always promised to see out a contract which runs until the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign.
"I've had (job) offers," Coleman said.
"But in 20 years' time I can say I didn't jump ship after what we did at the Euros because I wanted to stay with Wales.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and it's the best job I ever took."
Coleman's future will almost certainly come in to sharper focus were Wales to lose against Austria on Saturday night.
He has said previously he would speak to his Football Association of Wales employers about the future if his side were out of the running for a place at next summer's World Cup finals in Russia.
Wales are currently four points adrift of top-two Serbia and the Republic of Ireland with four games left to play.
They are locked on eight points with Austria, and there is a strong feeling that there is no way back for the loser in Cardiff.
"In the last World Cup campaign we were nowhere after the first or second game and the question was 'whether he's going to stay or go'," Coleman said.
"At that stage we'd have been begging for this position. Four games to go and we've got a great chance.
"But we need a big result and a big performance in this first game. Forget the next three.
"The aim is Russia and that means we have to get Austria sorted out."
Wales follow the Austria game with a trip to Moldova on Tuesday, before concluding their campaign with an October double-header away to Georgia and at home to the Republic.