Wales' Craig Bellamy seeks to calm talk of him succeeding Chris Coleman
Craig Bellamy feels it is disrespectful for him to be touted as a potential successor to Chris Coleman but acknowledges managing Wales would be a "great opportunity".
Coleman's future as Wales manager is uncertain as a two-year contract extension remains unsigned while the Football Association of Wales wait to assess performances in the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium, and next month's friendly against Finland.
Bellamy, who will retire from the international game after the qualifiers, has already completed his Uefa "A" licence, but the 34-year-old felt talk of him succeeding Coleman was unfair to himself, and the Wales manager.
"It is always difficult," he said. "I feel it is very unfair, coming into my last two games, to be put in that position and it is not fair on the manager we have now. It's very disrespectful to him.
"If the manager stays on he is working with great players and, for whoever comes in if he doesn't, this is a great opportunity."
Coleman will attempt to repair his relationship with defender James Collins at a meeting on Wednesday, as the manager looks to patch up his injury-hit squad for the final two qualifiers.
Coleman has seen 10 players pull out with the squad having been hardest hit in defence – Ashley Williams withdrew with a ankle problem on Tuesday – but despite that the West Ham centre-back has remained on the fringes after a dispute over whether or not he rejected the chance to play for his country last month.
It is understood Coleman has agreed to meet Collins in Cardiff after the 41-cap defender broke their silence with a phone call on Tuesday.
Coleman said last week that any resolution would need to be made face to face, and following Collins's contact he has agreed to speak to the player in order to settle their differences. Should their meeting progress well there is a possibility that Collins could be drafted into the Wales squad in time for the Macedonia game in Cardiff on Friday.
Wales's injury crisis could yet get worse as the Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey took no part in training on Tuesday due to a leg injury.
The exclusions have threatened to undermine the end to Bellamy's 15-year international career. There had been suggestions the friendly with Finland would end up being his final game but he will bow out after next Tuesday's qualifier in Brussels.
He said: "This is the last week of my Wales career, I will not play in November. To play 70-odd times has been the best, even with the disappointments, the lows and the times I did not want to play again, because defeats can do that to you.
"But to have the honour of going out and singing the anthem 70-odd times … it's different, it's the best and I hope I get the chance to do it on Friday and again on Tuesday."
Bellamy is the equal third most-capped player in Welsh history, and is set to win his 77th cap against Macedonia in what will be his final home appearance, which will fittingly take place in his hometown of Cardiff.