Connor Roberts is disappointed that Craig Bellamy didn’t become manager of Burnley, having reaffirmed his commitment to Wales.
Interviewer: The manager I’ve had lots of questions to answer last week about the summer and links to Burnley but I suppose whatever would have happened you were in a win-win situation when you because if you’re enjoying Burnley you’d have worked with him there. Yeah, and he stayed here you’re working with him now and you love working with him. Don’t you?
Roberts: I’ve heard you talk about it before. Yeah, I’ve known Bellerz for a while now he was at Burnley as a coach and obviously now he’s the manager of Wales and I think he is fantastic.
“People have their opinions. People look from the outside. They can say whatever they want, but people that know him, work with him and understand what he is all about and listen to what he’s got to say, I’ve only ever seen them sing praises of him.
“Am I a little bit disappointed that he’s not Burnley manager? I’d be lying it I said that I wasn’t. It would have been fantastic. I think it would have been just what we needed.
“But he’s not and we move on and now he is still obviously still here, still the manager of Wales and he’s going to continue to give his absolute everything to produce and give us the best team that we possibly can and yeah, we’ll see how the next few camps go and building into the next major tournament hopefully.”
Bellamy said in a press conference: “I worked two years there and had a good relationship with them.
“It was flattering – we all like our ego being exercised and being wanted – but for me, my partner, my kids, this is the place and we didn’t see anything else being able to move that.
“For them to progress the conversation and speak to me even further, they had to do what Wales had done with them.
“They had to get permission from Burnley, and then we had a conversation. Burnley got into the conversation with Wales because you have to do it right.
“I’m always try to be upfront. If anyone contacts me, I speak to Wales straight away. I speak to Dave, I speak to Noel. I’m transparent on everything we do and then, I had a decision to make and I made that decision and that for me was a state. It was as simple as that.
“I seen what went out. It’s not for me to talk. This is the first time I’m talking about it and I made a decision to stay because this is the right place for me.
“Now, I know there was a lot said about um the best job in the world. Every job I am at is the best job in the world. You’re at BBC. Yeah. It’s best job in the world eh? It is because you’re doing it, and that’s where I’m always at. Like when I was doing Anderlecht under 21s, it’s the best place in the world.
“So to me it was I had a decision to make and I made that decision I spoke to Noel in the morning, let him know my decision.
“Then I spoke to Burnley, and it was as simple as that. I can’t control the narrative and what goes out after that. Nor do I ever want to get involved in trying to control it. Let it be, when I have a chance to talk, then I’ll talk and this is it.”
Journalist: “You said you had a decision to make. Craig, did you consider leaving?”
Craig: “Consider? No, I’m always um I think I’ve always shown people respect. when someone goes out of their way like I did with Wales when I was already working at Burnley. Wales wanted to speak to me, of course you have to then get clearance cuz I believe that’s the right way to go. They did, and it’s the same the other way.
“So you have a conversation, and to me, I was already in a role, and that I don’t know, I had more this was it.
“This is what I wanted, so yeah, it was flattering as well. I think we all like our ego being exercised and and being wanted.
“So that was, you know, that’s not a problem. But to me was, you know, just me, my partner, my kids, this was the place, and we didn’t see anything else being able to move that.”
Journalist: “You said you you said yourself you haven’t spoken, you didn’t want to control the narrative.
“But because of the comments saying that you you just alluded to about this job and wanting to stay here for for two years, not going anywhere, fans by and large seem disappointed, a bit let down that you might even consider leaving. Do you think you’ve got some making up to do with them?”
Craig: “Look, I know the game. It’s all I know. I know what comes in. I know what gets said. I know what doesn’t get said. I know how this can be looked or what can be. And I know a next result is always important. And I know a bad result’s always important.
“To me it’s I know, there’s only one person I have something to prove to, and that’s anyone in this room. It’s to yourself and your morals. What do you live by? I’ve never moved for money. I’ve never done anything for money and I ain’t going to change now.
“So to me was I’m comfortable with me. I’m comfortable decision I’ve made and um I’ve always been committed in everything I do and that hasn’t changed.
“Now, winning people over, I don’t know. That’s the honest truth. The simple part of it is, I’m comfortable in me, and the biggest person I have something to prove to and win over is always me. Um, and that that never changes.”
Journalist: “I appreciate that, Craig, but, would you understand if fans were?”
Craig: “Oh, completely. When I hear the narrative being pushed, of course, I understand it, but that’s life. That’s not for me to get involved in that and say, “Oh, this, don’t, no no, this got to stop.” What did I The first thing I said with the Welsh FA was, “Do not say anything. Leave it. Leave it. This wants to be pushed out there. Let it be pushed out there.”
“I know this game. It doesn’t change. It doesn’t change, nor with me trying to be honest with you through the years and how I try and live and try and is that going to win you up?
“No. I know where this is going to go. I know what it’s going to be looked like and I was going to be said after it. Let it happen. Let it happen. It doesn’t change me, and it’s important to, you know, I don’t try to create stories. I don’t try to create narratives.
“Maybe, you know, like my partner said, you should say something. I was like, no, leave it, love. You know, it’s more important that we have our time to talk like it is now. Okay. We had to wait a couple of more months because we’ve been not as active as the usual case due to this time. But to me was always let time heal. Let time heal and then the truth comes out and that’s it.”
