Ashley Williams tells Chris Coleman to perform U-turn by not quitting as Wales boss after 2018 World Cup
Dragons skipper Williams also insists he has no plans of quitting the international game anytime soon
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ASHLEY WILLIAMS has urged out-going Wales boss Chris Coleman to perform a U-turn and stay.
And the Dragons captain - the oldest player in Cookie’s squad - insists he has no plans of following his manager out of international football anytime soon.
Coleman, whose side face Austria on September 2, plans to quit as Wales boss when his contract expires at the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign in October.
But Everton defender Williams said: “On behalf of all the players we would love him to stay.
“Inevitably, it’s his career and decision and he needs to do what he feels is best for him and his family. We understand how it is.
“We as players haven’t spoken about it but my opinion is we’re desperate and would love Chris to stay.”
Williams cites Wales’ bright future - the likes of Liverpool duo Ben Woodburn, Harry Wilson and Ethan Ampadu of Exeter - as a major reason why Coleman should extend his six-year tenure.
He added: “We have a lot of players now with 60/70 caps. Before the Serbia game the gaffer picked a young squad for the trip to Portugal and the kids were so good.
“If we mix all those caps with the good kids then it’s perfect for the future.”
Williams turns 33 on August 23 but is adamant he has no desire to retire just yet despite the demands of the Premier League and Europe with club side Everton.
Williams said: “I’ve got no plans for it right now. I can’t imagine me saying that’s enough now, I will retire.
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“I enjoy being away with the lads too much and the playing in terms of an international week is the last little bit.
“So I don’t think I have any need to retire. It would be more like when you are not getting picked.”
Williams pinpoints Ampadu, 16, who joined Chelsea from Exeter in the summer although the clubs are yet to agree compensation, as his long-term replacement.
He joked: “I wasn’t going to retire until I saw Ethan Ampadu in Portugal. He’s something else.
“We play a back three and he plays the same position as me. I was watching him at the other end and I thought, ‘This kid is unbelievable’.
“He’s so young but if he carries on the sky is the limit for him. Definitely. Even I’m thinking, ‘Ok, if he progresses how he should then he will be a natural replacement for me.’
“It made me feel a little bit better in terms of when my time is to retire.
“When you retire you don’t want to think you are letting your country down or you have to play on because there’s no one else but you’re past it.
“When it’s my time and the gaffer feels I’m past it then Ethan can come straight in. For the time being I want to help him and pass on what I have learnt.”
- 'DON’T TAKE ME HOME', a documentary about Wales' march to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, is available on DVD & Blu-ray