By Mark Heys
March 29 2006

A career in coaching or management is firmly on the mind of Gary Speed once his long and illustrious playing career comes to an end. The veteran Wanderers star has a year left on his current contract at the Reebok Stadium and strives to keep on playing for a long as possible, but the lure of a position away from the playing side is something which greatly appeals to the 36-year old midfielder.

"I've got another year left on my contract so we'll wait and see - I want to keep going as long as I can," he told the BBC

Speed, a £750,000 signing from Newcastle United in the summer of 2004, says that he intends to start his coaching badges in preparation for if the right opportunity comes along.

"I'm doing my coaching badge in the summer. I won't say managing will happen but if a coaching chance arises in the future I'll be ready."

Shortly after his move to Bolton he was heavily linked to replace Mark Hughes as the Welsh international boss but the opportunity to manage his home nation came at the wrong time.