​FAW chief executive Noel Mooney says the search for replacements for Piet Cremers and Chris Gunter is already underway. Cremers, 31, has stepped away from his role as the assistant to Wales head coach Craig Bellamy to take charge as head coach of Club NXT, the youth academy of Club Brugge. Gunter, 36, who recently captained Wales at the UEFA Under-19 Men’s Championship, has moved on to join former teammate Aaron Ramsey at Oxford United.
“We’re always looking at the next steps,” Mooney told BBC Sport Wales. “It’s a constant process and we want to stay ahead of the game, so we’re continually reviewing all age groups. When someone moves on, like Chris has moving to Oxford United, the question becomes: who will replace him? That’s the whole system in action. You’d expect us to be doing that, so we’re always seeking bright young coaches to come in and fill the vacancies.”
Cremers’ departure marks the loss of a key Bellamy assistant. Mooney also reaffirmed Bellamy’s commitment to Wales, despite Bellamy’s failed bid to become Burnley boss, which prevented him from taking his backroom team to Turf Moor. Bellamy remains dedicated to guiding Wales, with focus shifting to the autumn Nations League campaign.
Gunter’s move represents a mentoring transition as Wales prepare to host the Under-19 Euros, and his departure has led to Oxford United’s recruitment of former Wales teammate Aaron Ramsey as head coach, with Gunter joining Ramsey as an assistant.
Mooney emphasized that the process to replace Gunter is already in motion. “Straight away we’ve established a conveyor belt of talent among coaches,” he said. “Wales is renowned globally for its world-class coach education system. We have a large pool of ambitious coaches who hold their Pro Licences and are eager to oversee our youth teams. That recruitment process starts now.”
Dave Adams, the FAW’s chief football officer, will lead the search and present a formal recommendation to the FAW board regarding the appointment of the new head coach and the surrounding backroom staff. Mooney indicated that a decision would come soon, with the aim of strengthening Wales’ youth development pathways and maintaining the country’s reputation for high-caliber coach education.
The FAW’s focus remains on maintaining progress across all age groups, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified coaches ready to advance Wales’ international football ambitions. The federation is committed to identifying the best candidates who can uphold and enhance the national team’s performance and development programs as they prepare for upcoming competitions, including the Nations League and future youth tournaments.
In summary, the FAW is actively replacing Cremers and Gunter through a structured, proactive process designed to preserve Wales’ leadership in coach education and talent development. The organization highlights its global reputation for cultivating top-tier coaching talent and reinforcing its youth systems, with Dave Adams overseeing the recruitment drive and reporting to the board on the eventual appointment of the next head coach and backroom team for the Welsh national setup.