Ryan Giggs to help Wales prepare for Euro 2020 on informal basis

Ryan Giggs to help Wales prepare for Euro 2020 on informal basis following his removal as head coach after being charged with three seperate offences including ABH last month

  • Ryan Giggs will lend a hand to Wales new head coach Rob Page for Euro 2020 
  • The former Manchester United winger was removed as his nation’s head coach 
  • Giggs was charged with three seperate offences last month, including ABH 

Ryan Giggs is ready to lend a hand to Wales’ Euro 2020 campaign after Rob Page replaced him as manager for the tournament.

Wales appointed Page after Giggs was charged with actual bodily harm and two other offences last month. The former Manchester United winger has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Page revealed he had spoken to Giggs recently and that the former Manchester United winger, who steered Wales to qualification, was open to helping Page on an informal basis as Wales prepare for only their second major tournament since 1958.

 Ryan Giggs will still lend a hand to Wales’ Euro 2020 campaign after being replaced as coach

‘We’ve been in touch and I had a great conversation with him last week,’ said Page. ‘You don’t go from being friends and colleagues and working together in a close environment to then not speaking.

‘Of course I’m going to speak to him and he wants what’s best for Wales. With regards to decisions and finalising things that will be me, but what Ryan has said is that if I need any advice or a different perspective on things then he’s always going to be there.

‘It’s great to hear that but ultimately now the decisions moving forward will be from myself and my coaching staff.

‘These are difficult circumstances, there is no hiding from that. We are dealing with the situation in the best way possible. Common sense prevails and it’s continuity that the players want as well.

‘Finally and thankfully we are all clear about what is going to happen, Ryan included, and we can focus on the job in hand – preparing a team for Euro 2020.’

Rob Page has stepped into the breach after Giggs was charged with ABH and other offences

Rob Page has stepped into the breach after Giggs was charged with ABH and other offences

Page has held talks with senior players, including captain Gareth Bale, since he was handed the reins. Wales open their tournament against Switzerland on June 11, with the match currently due to take place in Baku.

They are due to have a training camp in Portugal before they travel to the tournament, with Page keeping a close eye on his players during the final rounds of league action.

He added: ‘[The players] have not let outside influences affect them and have been calm through the process. We don’t take out foot off the gas. We up the intensity if and get them ready mentally and physically.’