Connor Roberts is disappointed Craig Bellamy has not become Burnley manager and has reiterated his commitment to Wales.
The Wales and Burnley player appeared on the BBC Wales Football Extravaganza and admitted he would like to see manager Craig Bellamy return to Turf Moor.
Instead, Nicky Hayen takes charge and the Clarets currently sit bottom of the table with four points from eight games.
Nicky Hayne admits he could be sacked by Burnley after Derby’s 93rd-minute equalizer
interviewer:Manager I had a lot of questions to answer last week about the summer and Burnley, but I think whatever happens you’ll be in a win-win situation because if you like Burnley you’ll be there to work with him. Yes, he stays here and you work with him now and you love working with him. Isn’t it?
roberts: I’ve heard you say that before. Yeah, I’ve known Velez for a while and now he’s coaching at Burnley and obviously now he’s the manager of Wales and I think he’s great.
“People have their opinions. People are on the outside looking in. They can say whatever they want, but the people who know him, who have worked with him, who know what he’s all about, who listen to what he has to say, I’ve only ever seen them praise him.
“Am I a bit disappointed that he’s not the Burnley manager? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. That would be great. I think that’s exactly what we need.”
“But he’s not and we move on and now he’s obviously still here, still the manager of Wales and he’s going to continue to give it his all and give us the best team possible and yes we’ll see how the next few training camps go and hopefully be ready for the next big tournament.”
Bellamy said at a press conference earlier this month: “I worked there for two years and had a great relationship with them.
“It’s really flattering – we all like our egos to be exercised and needed – but for me, my partner, my kids, this is the place and we don’t see anything else that would change that.
“In order for them to progress the conversation and speak to me further, they have to do what Wales did to them.
“They had to get permission from Burnley and then we had a conversation. Burnley had a conversation with Wales because you have to do it right.
“I always try to be as candid as possible. If I’m contacted, I speak to Wales straight away. I speak to Dave, I speak to Noel. I’m transparent about everything we do and then, I get to make a decision and I make that decision and for me this is a country. It’s that simple.
“I saw what happened. It’s not for me to talk about. It’s the first time I’m talking about it and I decided to stay because it’s the right place for me.
“Now, I know there are a lot of people who say ‘best job in the world’. Every job I’ve had has been the best job in the world. You’re at the BBC. Yeah. It’s the best job in the world, isn’t it? Because you’re doing it and that’s where I’ve been. Like when I was playing at Anderlecht under 21s, that’s the best place in the world.”
“So for me I had to make a decision and I spoke to Noel about it in the morning and let him know my decision.
“Then I spoke to Burnley and it was as simple as that. I have no control over the narrative and what happens after that. I don’t want to be involved in trying to control it. Let it be and when I get the chance to speak, I will speak and that’s it.”
reporter: “You said you had a decision to make. Craig, have you considered leaving?”
Craig: “Think about it? No, I always um, I guess I always respect people. When someone is as desperate as they were with Wales when I was working at Burnley. Wales wanted to speak to me and of course you have to get permission because I believe it’s the right thing to do. They did that and the same goes for the other way around.
“So you have a conversation and, for me, I’ve played a role but I don’t know, there’s more to me and that’s it.
“That’s what I want, so yeah, that’s flattering, too. I think we all like our egos to be exercised and needed.
“So, you know, it’s not a problem. But to me, you know, it’s just me, my partner, my kids, this is the place and we don’t see anything else that could move it.”
reporter: “You said yourself that you didn’t speak, that you didn’t want to control the narrative.
“But because there were comments saying that you just mentioned this job and wanted to stay here for two years and not go anywhere, most of the fans seemed disappointed and a little disappointed, and you might even consider leaving. Do you think you need to make amends with them?”
Craig: “Listen, I know the game. That’s all I know. I know what to expect. I know what to say. I know what not to say. I know how it’s going to look or what it’s going to be. I know the next result always matters. I know the bad result always matters.
“For me, I know, there’s only one person I have to prove it to, and that’s anybody in this room. It’s for yourself and your morals. What do you do for a living? I’ve never moved for money. I’ve never done anything for money, and I’m not going to change that now.
“So for me, I’m happy with myself. I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made and, well, I’ve always been committed to everything I’ve done and that hasn’t changed.
“Right now, I don’t know how to win people over. That’s the honest truth. The easy part is, I’m comfortable with who I am, and the most important person I have to prove and win over is always me. Well, that’s never going to change.”
reporter: “I appreciate it, Craig, but would you understand if the fans were?”
Craig: “Oh, totally fine. I certainly understand when I hear stories being pushed, but that’s life. I shouldn’t get involved and say, ‘Oh, this, don’t, no, no, this has to stop.’ “What I did was that the first thing I said to the Football Association of Wales was: “Don’t say anything. Leave it. Leave it. This wants to be pushed out there. Let it be pushed there. “
“I know this game. It’s not going to change. It’s not going to change, and I’ve tried to be honest with you over the years, how I’ve tried and lived and tried, doesn’t that change you?
“No. I know where this is going. I know what it’s going to look like and I’m going to be said after it. Let it happen. Let it happen. It’s not going to change me and the important thing is, you know, I’m not trying to create a story. I’m not trying to create a narrative.
“Maybe, you know, like my partner said, you should say something. I was like, no, stop it, honey. You know, it’s more important that we have time to talk like we are now. Well. We have to wait a few more months because this time we’re not as active as we usually are. But for me, it’s always about letting time heal. Let time heal and then the truth will come out and that’s it.”
Here’s how fans on social media reacted to Connor Roberts’ disappointment at Craig Bellamy not becoming Burnley manager…
@RichOwainRobs: It’s so weird to be sitting there wearing a @Cymru shirt and making comments like this 🙃
@TheWelshDragon9: This is so weird.
@ma32550: Deplorable comments from so-called team leader Connor Roberts. If this group had spent more time looking in the mirror, taking responsibility, and not casting shade on Hayne, we wouldn’t be at the bottom of the league because of their poor performance on the pitch #twitterclarets
@myftbl picture: Dramatically undermines the current Burnley manager’s influence and suggests he cares more about Burnley’s success than Wales’s. That sums up the attitude of Welsh players these days.
@JimTom19: Not the most thoughtful response I’ve ever seen
@LouisCcfc: So unprofessional wtf
@mjccfc:Another of Bellamy’s favorite horrible players, I can’t wait to see the back of him when he finally leaves, absolutely pathetic
@SMMiller14: This is disrespectful to the club and the national team. Throw your current club manager under the bus and tell your country that you would rather their manager manage him at club level than the national team manager.
@GeeNelsss: This is disrespectful to Nicky Hayne and Burnley. Even in their current state, this is bad. Bad timing.
@dan__B94: I’m sure the real Burnley manager would be delighted with this
@Ipswichislife78: Not a good sign for Hain, is it?
@stephenjamesbfc: Those comments from Connor Roberts scream Hayne has no dressing room.
@fdos328: Can’t see Wales fans being happy with this comment. It also shows that Burnley players do not have Hayne. Other than that, great review