Brian Flynn is the Wales managerial choice of many current Welsh players

Wales star Gareth Bale has publically given his backing for caretaker boss Brian Flynn to succeed John Toshack as full-time manager of the national team.

The Football Association of Wales has interviewed four candidates and hopes to make an appointment by Christmas.

Former Sweden boss Lars Lagerback is favourite but Flynn, in charge of youth development, is popular among many of the country's younger players.

"I hope Brian Flynn gets it as it would be good for Welsh football," said Bale.

Experienced Swede Lagerback, who coached his homeland to three European Championships and two World Cup finals in his nine years at the helm, has been interviewed by the FAW's managerial appointment sub-committee.

Flynn, who temporarily took the Wales senior role for their Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland in October, has also been interviewed by the Welsh FA.

BBC Sport understands that former Fulham manager Chris Coleman, who was sacked by Championship side Coventry City in May and is currently out of a job, has also been interviewed.

Brian knows all of the boys and has brought everyone through from the under-17s team to the first team and knows everyone inside out Wales international Gareth Bale

Former Wales striker John Hartson, who has the relevant Uefa coaching qualifications and is seeking his first job in football management, is also thought to be in contention.

One-time Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez and current Wrexham boss Dean Saunders, who was part of Toshack's coaching team, are also apparently in the frame.

And BBC Sport understands that the Welsh FA is to approach Sheffield United in a bid to speak of their manager Gary Speed about succeeding Toshack.

Bookmakers' odds on former Wales captain Speed, who has been in charge of the Championship strugglers for four months, have shortened from 40-1 to 1-2 inside 24 hours.

Wales' most-capped outfield player is now second favourite behind Lagerback, who also coached Nigeria, to replace Toshack on a full-time basis.

Speed admitted he was a "proud Welshman" but has dismissed the renewed speculation about him becoming Wales' new boss as "nothing whatsoever" and "just speculation."

A six-man Welsh FA managerial appoint sub-committee has been appointed by the FAW's full council to interview candidates and give its recommendation on who to succeed Toshack to chief executive Jonathan Ford.

Ford then has the executive power to make the approach to the chosen candidate and offer the man the position of Welsh national team manager.

Wales winger Bale hopes that Flynn, who has previously had three unsuccessful interviews to become national team manager, is repaid for his huge input into developing Wales' talented youngsters.

"I'm hoping Brian Flynn gets it because he did a great job when he was there for 10 days," the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder told BBC Wales' Sport Wales show.

"Brian knows all of the boys and has brought everyone through from the under-17s team to the first team and knows everyone inside out."

Brian Flynn is currently coach of Wales' U17, U19 and U21 teams

Wales suffered a 1-0 defeat by Bulgaria in Cardiff in Flynn's first game in temporary charge before losing 4-1 in Switzerland.

He stood in after Toshack departed following Wales' opening Group G loss in Montenegro and immediately spoke of his desire to take the job on a permanent basis.

"I know the results didn't go our way but the training was high tempo and everything was upbeat," added Bale.

"And that is what kind of manager Brian Flynn is and he has brought a lot to the Wales game and it showed in our performances - even though we lost."

Flynn has been hailed as the man that developed Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Collison, Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter and David Edwards through the Welsh youth system and into the national side.

He has transformed Wales' youth teams and the under-21 side are now realistic contenders for European Championship final qualification.

Wales' next fixture is their Four Nations opener with the Republic of Ireland on 8 February but their next European qualifier is home to England on 26 March.

"It will be nice to know who the manager is and get ready for the England game," concluded Bale, the winner of BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year award.

* Catch the full Gareth Bale interview on Sport Wales on BBC TWO Wales this Friday at 1900 GMT.

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