Cooper on Wales' radar amid Bellamy's Burnley links

Ex-Swans boss Steve Cooper (left) is an early front runner to replace Craig Bellamy (right) should he leave the Wales job [Huw Evans Picture Agency/Getty Images]

Wales are preparing for head coach Craig Bellamy's possible move to Burnley with a shortlist of potential successors which includes former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper.

Football Association of Wales (FAW) bosses held informal talks with Cooper before news emerged of Burnley's renewed interest in Bellamy, while ex-Wolves manager Rob Edwards is also under consideration.

The Clarets have stepped up their pursuit of Bellamy as they search for a new manager after Scott Parker departed following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

Burnley have not yet reached an agreement with the FAW, which wants at least £1m in compensation.

If Bellamy rejoins the club where he worked as an assistant coach under now Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany, the FAW already has a list of possible replacements.

Former Forest and Swansea City boss Cooper is a leading candidate and would not require a compensation fee as he has been out of work since leaving Danish side Brondby earlier this year.

Like Cooper, Edwards would have been in a strong position to get the Wales job when Bellamy was appointed in 2024, had he not been at a Premier League club - Luton in Edwards' case.

The FAW has also kept tabs on Eric Ramsay, the former Wales and Manchester United assistant coach who was briefly in charge of West Bromwich Albion during the 2025-26 season.

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Rob Edwards was sacked after just seven months in charge of Wolves [Getty Images]

Bellamy, who has two years left on his four-year deal with Wales, publicly stated earlier this month that he had rejected club offers to stay.

The 46-year-old has repeatedly expressed his desire to honour his contract and lead his country at Euro 2028, which Wales will co-host with England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

However, he has also been open about wanting to return to club football and earn more money, having taken a substantial pay cut to leave his assistant role at Burnley to take the Wales job.

Senior FAW sources told BBC Sport Wales last month they were "very confident" Bellamy would stay despite interest from Burnley and Celtic among others.

And while the governing body's bosses still want to keep the former Liverpool and Manchester City forward, they accept he could leave if Burnley make an acceptable offer.

Wales lost their World Cup semi-final play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina following a penalty shootout in Cardiff [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

Bellamy was unbeaten in his first nine games as he guided Wales to promotion to the top flight of the Nations League, where they will face Portugal, Norway and Denmark later this year.

But they missed out on World Cup qualification after losing their play-off semi-final at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina in March, and they have won only three of their past 11 games.

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