Under-fire boss Rob Page apologised to Wales fans after a 4-0 thrashing to Slovakia and said it is “up to the powers that be” to decide if he stays in the job.
Page saw Wales get dismantled in a Trnava friendly after their dismal 0-0 draw with Gibraltar, the world’s 203rd-ranked team, in Portugal on Thursday.
The pressure has steadily grown on Page after Wales’ flat performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when they finished bottom of their group and their failure to qualify for this summer’s European Championship.
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Page has over two years left on the contract he signed in September 2022, but he was once again booed by supporters after going over to them after the final whistle while others wasted no time on social media calling for him to quit.
“I get it, I’m a supporter myself,” Page told S4C after the joint-heaviest defeat of his tenure, which began in November 2020.
“I went over to the supporters and clapped them with the lads. When the lads went, I made a point of saying to them ‘it’s on me and I’ll take it’.
“I apologised to the supporters at the end. Their support tonight was immense and I completely understand their frustration.
“If the powers that be decide I’m not the one to lead them forward then that’s their decision. But I’m fully focused on what the two games were useful for.
“We see that there are some young players that will be an addition to the squad come September.”
Page was denied the presence of a raft of senior players for Wales’ two June friendlies.
Wales were without the entire defence that had lined up in the Euro 2024 play-off final defeat to Poland on penalties in March.
Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon and Neco Williams were all absent, as were the creative attacking talents of Aaron Ramsey, David Brooks and Harry Wilson.
“We didn’t have any of the back five and we’ve tried to give games, minutes and caps to some of the younger players,” said Page.
“It was an opportunity for us to look to the future and Lewis Koumas is an absolute positive. Without these two games we wouldn’t have seen his capabilities. He will be the next