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Former Wales centre Gavin Henson says Steve Tandy is the right man to lead Wales, but warned the new head coach will face tough times ahead.

Tandy will take charge of Wales for the first time in November when they face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in Cardiff.

Under caretaker coach Matt Sherratt, who is now part of Tandy’s backroom team, Wales ended their 18-match losing run with a win against Japan in July.

Henson, who played alongside Tandy at Ospreys, also admitted he did not think his former team-mate would become a coach.

“Steve Tandy has done unbelievable stuff since he finished his playing days,” said 43-year-old Henson, who won 33 caps for Wales and one for the British and Irish Lions.

“I would not have had Steve down as a coach, but that’s the way it is. It sounds like he is the right man for the job, and he is Welsh, which is good.

Tandy takes over at a time of off-field chaos in Welsh rugby.

Proposals to reduce the number of regions in Wales from four to two remain under consideration with a decision expected from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) by the end of October.

The consultation period for the radical plan is now over with opponents of halving the number of four men’s professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – hoping the WRU will rethink its proposal, although performance director Dave Reddin insists it is still an option.

Henson hopes any Welsh professional sides could become part of an Anglo-Welsh or British and Irish League.

“It is such a tough one, it is obviously not working as it is,” said Henson, who is back playing regularly for boyhood club Pencoed in the game’s lower tiers, the WRU’s Admiral National League 2 West Central.

“There is talk of going to two regions because that’s all they can afford. Fair enough, but is that the answer?

“The big thing is trying to convince England to accept us into that league of theirs or if there was a way of making a British league with the Irish, Scots and English clubs.

Henson says he longs for a return to the Welsh club system that existed before the switch to regional rugby in 2003.

“I am very much a club man, I came through playing for Swansea,” said Henson.

“I grew up seeing all the clubs so the regions was always tough for me even though I played in that set-up.

“I would love to see clubs back properly. I like the look of that Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC), but let’s do it properly and go back to full clubs.

“There would need to be a lot more money from the WRU, but the big thing is trying to convince England to accept us into that league of theirs and have promotion and relegation.”

Henson believes the element of jeopardy would draw more people into investing into rugby.

“Promotion and relegation would allow more benefactors to come into these clubs and believe in the dream, which is what we had back in the day,” said Henson.

“There is a lot of people out there with new money, a lot of millionaires but they won’t get involved in rugby because there is no climb, a dream of taking over a club and trying to take them to the top.

Rangers say they “did not get this right” with Russell Martin’s appointment and have started a “rigorous” recruitment drive to replace the head coach.

The 39-year-old was dismissed shortly after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Falkirk left Rangers eighth in the Scottish Premiership.

Martin won only one of his seven league games in charge and oversaw European defeats by Club Brugge, Genk and Sturm Graz.

In an open letter from chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe, the pair explained “it’s our responsibility to fix it and get us back on track”.

“The two of us are deeply involved, and the evaluation will have our full attention until we are confident we have a leader with the character and skillset to deliver results.

“Moving forward, we are fully confident in our players, who possess the talent and determination to succeed.

Cavenagh and Marathe said the “loyalty” of fans is not taken for granted.

“We see the effort and emotion you put into supporting Rangers, and it drives us every day,” they said of the club’s followers.

“We intend to earn your trust, because we all share the same goal – restoring success to Rangers.

“When we took over the club this summer, we shared what we want to build for Rangers – to win trophies in Scotland and be able to compete at a high level in Europe.

The duo came in during the summer as Rangers were taken over by 49ers Enterprises. Patrick Stewart had earlier been appointed chief executive and Kevin Thelwell soon started as sporting director.

Stewart and Martin had been the subject of supporter protests prior to the recent Premier Sports Cup win at home to Hibernian. Thelwell recently said in an interview with club media that Rangers had a net spend of about £20m during the summer transfer window, with total spend estimated at £40m.

“A great deal of important work is progressing across the club, building out a stable leadership and football structure under Patrick and Kevin’s guidance, advancing detailed plans aligned with our long-term strategy, and beginning the early stages of investment planning for Ibrox,” said the chairman and vice-chairman.

It has not been confirmed who will lead Rangers in their next match, the Scottish Premiership visit of Dundee United on 18 October, with a visit to Brann in the Europa League scheduled for 23 October. The Ibrox side are yet to register a point in the Europa League after two defeats.

Rangers are through to the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup and will face holders Celtic on 2 November.

Former Ibrox players Stevie Smith and Jonatan Johansson are overseeing Rangers B, including their Challenge Cup campaign against senior SPFL teams, and Finn Johansson has previously worked with Rangers’ first team.

Last season, following Belgian Philippe Clement’s departure as manager in February, former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson was appointed head coach until the end of the season.

England vs. Wales: friendly international

Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, October 9 Start time: 19:45 BST

A boxing promoter wouldn’t pair England and their squad against his Wales side because they have such impressive squad depth, according to Craig Bellamy.

Before their crucial World Cup qualifying match against Belgium on Monday, Bellamy’s men take on England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday.

For the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia, England manager Thomas Tuchel has eliminated players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish from his squad.

Bellamy claimed that England has a ridiculous squad similar to France.

“Our transfer market value is £170 million, while theirs is £1.4 billion. You wouldn’t join us if you were a boxing promoter. It wouldn’t be permitted, “.

The head coach of Wales, however, stated that “we don’t go off values. They don’t just have one team.” France has the same level, while others have two, three, four. The truth is that England has a lot of talented players.

There are only 24 more left after one right-back was hurt the other day. There are 60 or so players there. We should be stacked like them, in my opinion.

The neighbouring nations most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England won the group game comfortably with a score of 3-0 before Gareth Southgate’s side advanced to the last eight.

Tuchel, a champion champion in the Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup at Chelsea, is Southgate’s replacement, who has won national titles in France and his home country of Germany.

Bellamy served as Vincent Kompany’s assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley before taking over from Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

“Tuchel’s a fantastic manager, and his record is impressive,” Bellamy continued.

Because the club he left, I know people who have entered there, so I have some sort of insight. It’s very impressive to see how he operates in his own eyes.

Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), and Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest) are the defenders.

Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), and Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) are the midfielders.

International friendly: England v Wales

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19: 45 BST

Craig Bellamy says England’s squad depth is so impressive that a boxing promoter would not pair them against his Wales side.

Bellamy’s men face England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium next Monday.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has left the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish out of his squad for the Wales friendly and their World Cup qualifier against Latvia.

“England have a ridiculous squad, like France”, Bellamy said.

“They have a transfer market value of £1.4bn, ours is £170m. If you were a boxing promoter, you wouldn’t put us together. It wouldn’t be allowed”.

The Wales head coach added: “We don’t go off values, but the simple fact is they don’t just have one team. They have two, three, four and France and others have the same level. England have loads of great players and that’s the honest truth.

” One right-back went out injured the other day and there’s only 24 more to go! They’ve got 60-odd players. I’d love us to be stacked like them. “

The neighbouring countries most recently met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when England ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in a group match before Gareth Southgate’s side reached the last eight.

Southgate’s successor is Tuchel, a Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup winner at Chelsea who has won domestic titles in France and his native Germany.

Bellamy was formerly an assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley to Vincent Kompany, who succeeded Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

” Tuchel’s an incredible manager – his record is proven, “Bellamy added.

” I have some sort of an insight because the club he left I know people who have gone in there. I get a bit of an insight there of how he works and it’s very impressive.

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Leeds United), Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Tom King (Everton).

Defenders: Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Jordan James (Leicester City – on loan from Stade Rennais), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).