A distraught Jack Collison is guided from the pitch after Tuesday's game

John Toshack will leave the decision to Jack Collison whether he reports for Wales duty after his father's death.

Ian Collison was going to watch his son play for West Ham against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday when he crashed his motorbike on the M25 near Epping.

Mr Collison, 46, from Stevenage, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Collison opted to play for West Ham in Tuesday's Carling Cup game with Millwall, but left the pitch distraught after violence flared between fans.

One man was stabbed as fans clashed outside West Ham's Upton Park ground, while there were also three pitch invasions during the game - which the Hammers won 3-1 after extra time.

West Ham United players wore black armbands during Tuesday's Carling Cup tie to mark the death of their team-mate's father.

A West Ham spokesperson said before the match: "Our thoughts are with Jack and his family and we ask people to respect his privacy at a very difficult time for them."

Collison is in the Wales Under-21 squad to play Italy on 4 September and will also be named in Wales' senior squad to face Russia in Cardiff on 9 September.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been a regular in Toshack's Wales sides since graduating from Brian Flynn's Under-21 squad.

Collison would be a certain starter for Wales in their final home 2010 World Cup qualifier with Russia at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales boss Toshack and the Football Association of Wales have sent their sympathies to Collison and will leave the decision as to his international availability up to him.

We just want to be there for Jack and his family if they need us FA of Wales spokesperson

An FAW spokesperson said: "John Toshack and Brian Flynn - as is everyone involved in the Wales national teams - were shocked and desperately saddened to learn the news of Jack's bereavement.

"Ian was naturally a keen supporter of Jack and he became friends with everyone who is involved in Welsh football. He was a genuinely really good guy.

"Jack's availability for the forthcoming Wales fixtures are probably the last thing on his mind at the moment, we just want to be there for Jack and his family if they need us.

"But when the time comes, John will allow Jack to decide whether he will be available for the Italy and Russia games."

The date of Mr Collison's funeral is not yet known.

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