Burnley target Bellamy in managerial hunt
Burnley have stepped up their pursuit of Wales boss Craig Bellamy.
The Clarets have contacted the Football Association of Wales (FAW) as they target their former coach in their search for Scott Parker's replacement.
AdvertisementAdvertisementNo deal has been agreed yet and compensation would need to be negotiated.
Bellamy previously worked under Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor, helping the club to promotion in 2023, and was briefly named acting head coach after Kompany's move to Bayern Munich in 2024.
The 46-year-old has two years left to run on his contract with the FAW but could now part company with his home country midway through his four-year deal.
The Clarets have been searching for a new boss since Parker left by mutual consent in April, little more than a week after the club's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.
Ex-Wales forward Bellamy was swiftly identified as a contender to replace Parker.
Prior to Wales' June friendly fixtures with Ghana and Romania, Bellamy confirmed he had received interest from club level, but went on to commit his future to Wales.
"Everything's in place, I get completely backed and it's going to give me the opportunity in the next two years to improve again," Bellamy said before his side's 1-1 draw with Ghana in Cardiff on 2 June.
"Links? I understand it but I don't look too far. I love what I have here.
"I've been offered that elsewhere as well, but I have this here already.
"Wales gave me this opportunity and one or two might not have because I was conscious I haven't managed before. Wales have given me this opportunity and I'm really grateful for that.
"I am ambitious, trust me. I want to earn loads and loads of money but there's a time and now, at this present moment, it just doesn't feel that time."
Prior to the June international camp, FAW bosses told BBC Sport Wales they were "very confident" Bellamy would see out his contract - which runs until the end of Euro 2028.
Bellamy - who was recently linked with the Celtic role - was assistant to Kompany during the former Belgium international's time as head coach at Burnley between 2022 and 2024.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Clarets clinched the 2022-23 Championship title with 101 points to gain promotion to the top flight.
But they were relegated from the Premier League in 2023-24 - with Kompany leaving Lancashire to join Bayern Munich while Bellamy later departed to take the Wales job.
Wales were unbeaten in Bellamy's first nine games as he guided them to promotion into Nations League A, where they will face Portugal, Norway and Denmark later this year.
But they missed out on World Cup qualification after losing a penalty shootout in the play-offs against Bosnia-Herzegovina and have won just three out of their past 11 games.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBellamy's former Norwich and Wales team-mate Iwan Roberts told Radio Cymru: "I'm not sure if it would be a big loss [to Wales] if he did go, because Bellamy still has a lot of questions to answer as Wales boss. He's very inexperienced, but I do see why he'd be a good fit for Burnley."
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
