Wales under-21s boss Matty Jones leaves with immediate effect after crushing defeats

Wales U21 manager Matty Jones departs after failing to qualify for the European Championships for a second consecutive campaign, with the side finishing fourth in their group.

Matty Jones has stepped down as Wales under-21s manager with immediate effect following the team's failure to qualify for the European Championships for the second time in his tenure. The 46-year-old, appointed in September 2022, oversaw a fourth-place group finish after Wales won just two of eight fixtures and suffered heavy defeats including a 7-1 loss to Austria, 7-0 to Belgium, and 6-2 to Denmark. The FAW acknowledged Jones's success in developing young talent, with players including Liverpool's Lewis Koumas and Cardiff City's Dylan Lawlor progressing to the senior squad under Craig Bellamy during his time in charge.