Contract issue is 'mind blowing'

Rhian's concern over players without clubs

- By RACHEL STEINBERG

WALES boss Rhian Wilkinson vowed to seek out opportunities for her players after the “mind-blowing” experience of naming a Euro 2025 squad with five players out of contract.

Wales - the lowest-ranked side in Switzerland - finished last and without a point in Group D, widely viewed as the competition’s ‘group of death,’ following their 6-1 loss to defending champions England, who qualified for the quarterfinals alongside France.

In order to address what Wilkinson feels is a “real fitness gap” between her major tournament debutants and top sides like England, the Canadian coach is adamant they need to be more involved at club level.

“An international programme can’t really do that,” said Wilkinson. “We get them on a FIFA window for 10 days. So, my players have to be playing.

“I had five players out of contract here. It’s mind-blowing to me. Esther Morgan starts all our games, and she doesn’t have a club.