'I get it' - Page accepts boos after Gibraltar draw

Wales head Rob Page says he understands why fans booed him aft Thursday’s embarrassing tie against Gibraltar – but insists he will not “lose attraction connected nan semipermanent plan” he has for his team.

Some supporters jeered Page and chanted for him to beryllium sacked aft Wales were held to a goalless friends draw by a Gibraltar broadside classed 203rd successful nan world and without a triumph since 2022.

Page faced disapproval aft Wales were humiliated astatine location by Armenia past twelvemonth and went connected to miss retired connected qualification for Euro 2024, and nan reception he sewage successful Portugal aft nan Gibraltar crippled was nan astir dispute he has received truthful far.

“They are entitled to their opinion, absolutely. I get it, I wholly get it,” Page said erstwhile asked astir being booed.

“I'm a Welsh protagonist arsenic good arsenic nan manager, I'm disappointed. But I person to support saying astir nan bigger image and I'll astir apt get criticised for that. It's nan bigger image and we're not going to suffer attraction connected what we've done.”

Page’s tenure has been 1 of immense highs and lows, from nan ecstasy of qualifying for a first World Cup successful 64 years to nan disappointment of their dismal capacity astatine nan tourney itself successful 2022, and past nan despair of failing to suffice for Euro 2024.

Wales missed retired connected this summer’s title successful agonising manner arsenic they mislaid their play-off last to Poland connected penalties successful March, but nan existent harm was done during nan regular qualifying campaign.

The 4-2 conclusion astatine location to Armenia 12 months agone put Page nether immense pressure, and that intensified past October erstwhile Football Association of Wales main executive Noel Mooney publically stated that nan head needed to support winning games to enactment successful his job, comments which vice-captain Ben Davies later described arsenic “unhelpful”.

Page past oversaw a marked improvement. Other than nan punishment shootout conclusion by Poland aft a goalless 90 minutes, Wales are unbeaten successful their past 8 games.

However, wherever galore Wales fans are concerned, doubts stay complete Page and they made their feelings known aft Thursday’s woeful capacity against Gibraltar.

Asked if nan consequence could person a base connected his occupation security, Page told BBC Sport Wales: “If you've sewage a business scheme and a semipermanent scheme you can't beryllium emotional.

“That's a mobility you should inquire nan committee aliases nan main exec aliases nan president, not myself.

“I'm not going to suffer attraction connected nan semipermanent scheme we've got. It's a tie against a Gibraltar squad that we're really disappointed pinch and our attraction is connected getting nan squad and squad fresh for September to triumph Nations League games.”