Trio meet Wales FA

The race to replace Mark Hughes as Wales manager has today been narrowed down to three candidates.

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier had decided to decline an interview with officials of the Football Association of Wales, leaving John Toshack, Phillipe Troussier and Dean Saunders in the running.

The FAW sub-committee were proceeding this evening with the selection process at a hotel near Heathrow Airport in London.

Former Real Madrid boss Toshack, Newcastle coach Saunders as well as Frenchman Troussier were putting their cases forward in front of an 11-man committee.

Troussier’s situation is confused as he is also in talks with Ghana about taking over their national team.

The recommendations from the sub-committee will then be forwarded to the full council who are scheduled to meet tomorrow, and there is a possibility of a press conference in Cardiff.

It is understood the new manager will receive a four-year contract worth £1m (€1.4m) plus bonuses for reaching a major tournament.

Wales’ form has slumped in the past year and they have endured a frustrating start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

They currently lie second bottom of the group after picking up only two points from four games.