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The chief executive of the Welsh FA has dismissed reports linking Craig Bellamy with the managerial vacancy at Celtic.
Bellamy has been one of the names touted as a possible successor to Brendan Rodgers since his shock resignation last week.
The 46-year-old former striker had a loan spell as a player at Parkhead in 2005 and has carved out a decent reputation for himself as a coach.
Now in charge of the Welsh national team, Bellamy also had spells working alongside Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht and Burnley.
He is currently in the middle of a World Cup qualifying campaign, with Wales due to play against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia this month, with a play-off to come in March.
And Welsh FA boss Noel Mooney is adamant that Bellamy’s focus remains solely on the job in hand with the national team.
Craig Bellamy has been linked to Celtic but is trying to lead Wales to the World Cup
‘Craig’s done a terrific job with Cymru, he’s built an identity with us and a style of playing that has really got you all excited,’ said Mooney.
‘He’s a year and a bit into the job of a four-year contract, and we’re completely focused on going to the World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico next year.
‘Look, when you do well in any job, I think you’ll get linked to other jobs - and Celtic is a massive football club. But we have two massive matches in November that he’s absolutely focused on.’
Bellamy began his coaching career in the Cardiff academy and was Kompany’s assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley.
He had been set to join him at Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, before taking charge of his national team.
He made the best start of any Wales boss following his appointment in July 2024, going unbeaten in nine games and winning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.
Mooney added: ‘He’s going to get linked with roles. He’s an exciting coach who has really captured the imagination of a lot of people.
‘He will go from strength to strength with Cymru and I’m sure after us he will go on to manage the best teams in the world. I have no doubt about that.
‘But, for now, we’re completely focused on getting to the World Cup. All of us. We say: “Together Stronger” at the FAW and Craig is right at the heart of that.
‘Six points in November is our goal, onto the play-offs, and then on to the World Cup we go.’
Celtic remain under the command of Martin O’Neill, who is being assisted by Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus.
O’Neill hinted after the Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Rangers last Sunday that he would be open to talks with Dermot Desmond about potentially extending his stay.
Celtic will return to action in the Europa League on Thursday night when they face FC Midtjylland in Denmark.
