Chris Coleman overcomes fear to take Wales job

Coleman, 41, was yesterday confirmed as the successor to former Wales team-mate Speed, who died at the age of 42 in November after guiding the Dragons to four wins from his last five games in charge.

The former Fulham boss held talks with the Football Association of Wales after leaving his role as manager of Larissa last week, and the cash-strapped Greek side last night announced their intention to take legal action against the FAW, claiming that Coleman is under contract with them until June.

A Larissa spokesman said: "We have started legal proceedings...to claim compensation from the Welsh FA.

"We are also prepared to take the matter to FIFA."

But Press Association Sport understands the FAW are confident that they and Coleman have been thorough and correct in all matters relating to his appointment, and they believe Larissa's failure to pay Coleman and members of his staff due to their financial problems amounts to a breach of contract.

Coleman has been handed a contract through to the end of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, with the first game of his tenure being next month's Gary Speed Memorial Match against Costa Rica, although the former Swansea, Crystal Palace, Blackburn Fulham and Wales player says he will take a "background" role for that fixture out of respect for Speed.

And Coleman admitted that he had had concerns about taking on the job following the death of his friend, but that they were alleviated after holding talks with FAW chiefs.

When asked if he had had any doubts about accepting the job, he said: "Doubts? Fear.

"Fear doesn't enter my body too many times I can tell you that, but the fear there was obvious.

"In any other circumstances I would be sitting here with a big smile on my face. It is different.

"I am entering in a job unlike any other time I have done it, a lot of it is different and I have to deal with that as professionally as I can. There is also emotion involved which is not always a good thing in football.

"Once we had had the talks I knew I wanted to do the job.

"I have always thought one day I would love to have the opportunity to do the job.

"These circumstances are different but it wasn't going to stop me from doing it.

"I wanted to do it and it wasn't going to stop me from doing it."

Coleman had been expected to announce that he was bringing in his former Wales and Fulham team-mate Kit Symons as his assistant manager, but instead plans to speak to those who served under Speed, including the outspoken Raymond Verheijen, who made no secret of his own aspirations to remain involved in the national set-up, before making a final decision on his backroom team.