COLEMAN LOOKS FOR POSITIVES

The Welsh national team manager Chris Coleman has said that he hopes that the 2013 will be a positive year for the national team. The former Fulham manager has not been able to produce the results since taking over from the late Gary Speed almost a year ago.

Coleman has managed just one victory over Scotland during the last six matches, which have led to speculation that he will be removed from his post before the summer. The World Cup qualifying campaign for the national team is in tatters after a poor start. Qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup was one of the primary objectives for Coleman.

Coleman has admitted the fact that it is extremely hard to follow Gary Speed, who was such an influential figure for the national team. It has also been extremely tough for him on the emotional side as well because Speed was a mentor for Coleman as well. However, he is hoping that the blip from the likes of Croatia and Bulgaria will be enough for Wales to get back on the track when the World Cup qualifying resumes in May. Coleman also expressed his sympathy for the former Scotland manager Craig Levein, who was sacked recently after a poor run of results.

"I've had to come in and do the job Gary was doing and try to handle all that. I've had to try to put the emotion to one side which I didn't always do well at if I'm honest. I found that very difficult. It's been tough, difficult. Tougher than I thought. But we need to try to produce results again in the next three games in February and March, a friendly and two qualifiers. That's my job. I thought we showed good signs in the last camp and we have some great games coming up," said Coleman.