Sport
Joe Ledley: ‘Craig Bellamy the perfect man to lead Wales in new era’
WALES football legend Joe Ledley has hailed Craig Bellamy as the ideal choice to lead the national team, claiming the former striker has shed his “argumentative” streak to become a mature, focused manager. Bellamy, who takes charge of Wales for the first time tonight in a UEFA Nations League clash against Turkey, has impressed his former teammate with a newfound calmness and vision for the squad.
Ledley, now an ambassador for the Football Association of Wales (FAW), expressed his excitement at seeing Bellamy bring a high-energy, pressing style of football to the national team. Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast with former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie, Ledley praised Bellamy’s transformation from his volatile playing days to a composed leader.
“As a player, Craig would argue with anyone—he didn’t care who it was,” Ledley remarked. “But he’s matured, especially after working under Vincent Kompany. He’s learned how to communicate with players and understands the way modern football has evolved. I met him shortly after he got the job, and the brand of football he wants to bring, with everyone pressing high up the pitch, is really exciting.”
Bellamy’s tenure begins tonight in Cardiff, with Wales hosting Turkey before travelling to face Montenegro in three days. His appointment comes at a time of transition for the national team, following the retirement of key players such as Gareth Bale, Ashley Williams, and Joe Allen. Ledley, who played alongside Bellamy for both club and country, believes his former teammate’s passion and commitment will inspire the next generation of Welsh talent.
Asked about the most patriotic Welshman he has ever played alongside, Ledley did not hesitate: “It’s got to be Bellars. He was always there, even for friendlies when others might pull out. He was proud to captain his country and never shied away from representing Wales. Wherever he played, he gave his all and really bought into the team.”
Looking ahead to Wales’ future, Ledley acknowledged the challenges of replacing icons like Bale, who was pivotal in the team’s recent successes. However, he remains optimistic about the young players coming through, including Brennan Johnson, Dan James, and Neco Williams.
“It’s a big transition for us, especially after the golden era we’ve had, qualifying for three major tournaments. But with Bellamy at the helm and some great young talent, there are positive signs. Of course, it’s harder without someone like Gareth Bale, who was a once-in-a-lifetime player. But we’ve got the makings of something promising.”
In a lighter moment during the podcast, Ledley was asked to compare the atmosphere at Celtic Park, where he once played, to the intensity of a packed Cardiff City Stadium. Laughing, he admitted it was a tough choice.
“You’re killing me here!” Ledley said. “Celtic Park with 60,000 fans is something else, but the passion of the Welsh fans at Cardiff is unmatched. When the music cuts and the fans start singing, it’s a special feeling. I’ve got to say Wales, but both are incredible.”
With Bellamy at the helm and a new era of Welsh football set to begin, there is growing anticipation for what the future holds. Fans will be hoping that the same determination and fire Bellamy brought to the pitch as a player will translate into managerial success.
WALES’ search for a first win in this year’s Women’s Six Nations continues after a tough afternoon at Rodney Parade saw them fall 40-14 to a dominant Ireland side.
Despite a strong start and an early try from Carys Cox, the home team quickly lost control of the match as Ireland ran in six tries – two apiece from Linda Djougang, Aoife Wafer, and Dorothy Wall.
A second-half score from late squad addition Hannah Bluck gave Wales a glimmer of hope, but it was little more than consolation in front of a record crowd of 3,568 at the Newport venue.
Ireland’s forwards proved too powerful throughout, and Wales’ defensive frailties were exposed time and again. The defeat marks Wales’ fourth consecutive loss of the tournament, and they now face a must-win match against Italy to avoid finishing bottom of the table for a second straight year.
Wales began with purpose, with stand-in fullback Lleucu George causing problems early. Her clever kick down the flank forced an error from Ireland’s Amee-Leigh Costigan, allowing Cox to dive on the loose ball for the opening try.
But Ireland soon found their rhythm, capitalising on soft tackling and set-piece pressure. Djougang muscled over after a burst from Wafer, who soon added one of her own as the visitors took control.
Even a yellow card for Ireland fly-half Dannah O’Brien – shown a card for dangerous contact – did little to help Wales. The Irish maintained their dominance with Wall crossing just before half-time to put them 21-7 ahead.
Ireland continued their charge in the second half, with Wall securing the bonus point shortly after the restart. While Cox and Jasmine Joyce-Butchers tried to spark a response, handling errors and turnovers repeatedly derailed Welsh attacks.
Bluck’s try, created by strong carries from Carys Phillips and a sharp offload from Keira Bevan, gave fans something to cheer. But Wafer had the last word, bulldozing her way over from the base of the scrum to seal the win.
Ireland now look to cement third place when they face Scotland, while Wales have one last chance to salvage their campaign when they travel to face Italy.
After the match, head coach Sean Lynn admitted the performance was painful: “It hurts. We all feel it. We had moments where we were right in it – we could have gone 14-0 up – but didn’t take our chances. That’s the difference at this level.”
Ireland’s Aoife Wafer reflected on the team’s spirit: “We talk about being the most connected team in the world. That shows in how we play – not just the 23 here, but the girls back home too. Winning away is never easy, so we’re proud of this.”
Wales team: Joyce-Butchers; Neumann, Jones (capt), Keight, Cox; George, Bevan; G. Pyrs, K. Jones, Scoble, Fleming, Evans, K. Williams, Lewis, Callender.
Replacements: C. Phillips, Davies, Rose, John, A. Pyrs, S. Jones, Bluck, Richards.
Ireland team: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Breen, Amee-Leigh; O’Brien, Scuffil-McCabe; McCarthy, N. Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Wall, Hogan, McMahon (capt), Wafer.
Replacements: Moloney, McGrath, Haney, Tuite, Boles, Lane, Higgins, Elmes Kinlan.
Yellow card: O’Brien (36 mins)
Tries – Wales: Cox, Bluck | Conversions: Bevan 2
Tries – Ireland: Djougang 2, Wafer 2, Wall 2 | Conversions: O’Brien 3, Breen 2
FISHGUARD will once again play host to the Wales Triathlon this summer, with hundreds of competitors set to descend on the town for the popular sporting event on Sunday, June 15.
Organised by Activity Wales Events, the triathlon includes a two-lap sea swim in Fishguard Bay, followed by a two-lap cycle from Fishguard to St Davids and a four-lap run along the Marine Walk and out onto the breakwater.
In order to facilitate the bike leg on closed roads, several road closures will be in place throughout the day.
Major road closures
The A487 between Goodwick and Mathry will be closed between 9:45am and 3:00pm.
Between Mathry and Croesgoch, the A487 will be closed from 10:00am to 3:00pm, and from Croesgoch to St Davids the closure will run from 10:00am until 2:45pm.
Crossing points will be in operation at Mathry crossroads, Croesgoch crossroads, and the Llangoffan to Granston junction. Diversions will be signposted, with local traffic routed via minor B roads and through Haverfordwest for longer journeys.
Town centre impact
In Fishguard, West Street will be closed between 12:00pm and 6:00pm for the running stage. Residents will still be able to exit side roads, with diversions clearly marked.
Goodwick residents will be able to exit the town via the Tesco roundabout, which will remain open all day.
Care access and course passes
Care workers will be allowed access to visit clients within the closed sections, but must obtain a course pass via their organisation in advance.
On the day, carers using the route must:
- Follow the direction of the race
- Display their pass clearly
- Keep hazard lights on at all times
- Exit the route as soon as safely possible
Further information
The event attracted over 1,000 athletes last year, and organisers anticipate another strong turnout.
More information can be found at: www.walestriathlon.com/athletes/event-info
Road closure details are available at: community.walestriathlon.com
For course pass enquiries, contact: info@activitywalesevents.com
All matches complete as season concludes
THE 2024/25 season of the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – known as The Friendly League – has now officially concluded, with all clubs completing their outstanding fixtures.
The past few weeks saw the following catch-up matches played:
- Carew 8–2 Llanteg
- St Johns 8–2 Cosheston
- Hundleton 8–2 Reynalton
- Reynalton 9–1 Lamphey
- Cosheston 10–0 Kilgetty
- East Williamston 9–1 Kilgetty
Final League Table (2024/25 Season)
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | S/D | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Williamston | 20 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 313 | 158 |
| 2 | St Johns | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 111 | 122 |
| =3 | Carew | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 105 | 111 |
| =3 | Cosheston | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 77 | 111 |
| 5 | Reynalton | 20 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 28 | 104 |
| 6 | Hundleton | 20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 74 | 97 |
| 7 | Llanteg | 20 | 7 | 1 | 12 | -71 | 92 |
| 8 | St Twynnells | 20 | 8 | 1 | 11 | -97 | 89 |
| 9 | Badgers | 20 | 6 | 1 | 13 | -22 | 82 |
| =10 | Lamphey | 20 | 6 | 0 | 14 | -179 | 67 |
| =10 | Kilgetty | 20 | 6 | 0 | 14 | -262 | 67 |
Congratulations to East Williamston, who finish the season as clear champions with an impressive 158 points and a shot difference of +313.
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