Fifa World Cup Qualifying Group Four - Finland v Wales
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Helsinki Date: Saturday, 10 October Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC TWO Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online and live text commentary online

Robbie Savage has claimed national team boss John Toshack prematurely ended his Wales career because of Savage's character and not his football ability.

The midfielder was the first senior player to retire under Toshack before several other high-profile retirements.

Savage quit after a public bust-up with Toshack, who has never responded to criticism from the player.

"It wasn't a football reason, I was too big a character and personality and could influence people," said Savage.

Savage was one of the star players during the Mark Hughes regime when Wales almost reached the 2004 European Championship finals before a two-legged play-off defeat to Russia.

Wales have been in transition since Toshack replaced Hughes as manager in November 2004 and a host of experienced players such as Gary Speed, Mark Delaney, John Hartson, Andy Melville, Mark Pembridge and Giggs called time on Wales.

But Savage quit his country after Toshack told him he was not in a Wales squad despite playing for top Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.

It kills me that I've got only 39 Wales caps when I've played more than 350 Premier League games when there's people who haven't played 20 Premier League games who have got 50 caps. Derby County midfielder Robbie Savage

Toshack was a staunch critic of Savage before he took over Wales and when Hughes announced he was leaving as Wales boss to become Blackburn Rovers manager, outspoken Savage said he wanted a management team of Gary Speed and Brian Flynn to succeed Hughes.

Giggs and Wigan Athletic midfielder Jason Koumas, like Savage, are both still playing for their respective clubs in the Premier League after retiring for Wales duty.

And Savage told BBC Two Wales' Friday night show Sport Wales: "The only game I was involved in, I was a senior member of the squad and people that were put up for the Press are people who won't say anything - but that's the way it is.

"When Premier League players are in the Wales squad, they're the ones that the press want to speak to and no disrespect to players in the lower leagues, they don't want to speak to them.

"You had no voice as a senior player and, I suppose, I'm better off out of there.

"But I will always be bitter as, for me, it wasn't a football decision. It was because I am such a huge character.

"When he took over, John told me it was a clean slate for me and he picked me in his first squad - but I was injured and never picked again.

"He must have disliked what I said in the press when I wanted Gary Speed and Brian Flynn to get the job.

"I was good enough to play for Wales.

"And it's okay saying I threw my toys out of the pram but irrespective of whether I retired or not he was wasn't going to play me as I wasn't his type.

"It kills me that I've got only 39 Wales caps when I've played more than 350 Premier League games when there's people who haven't played 20 Premier League games who have got 50 caps.

"It makes me laugh as when you see players in my position like Carl Fletcher and Carl Robinson go on to win almost 50 caps, it breaks your heart.

"They pass the ball but at Derby I have the highest pass success rate. So at 34, sitting in front of the back four, passing the ball around and using my experience to help the kids is an ideal role for me. It would have been perfect.

"And I have played and worked well under managers such as Dario Gradi, Martin O'Neill, Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Peter Taylor and Nigel Clough and they don't make bad decisions that often."

The former Real Madrid manager has always insisted it was purely Savage's decision to quit the national squad.

In a rare response from Toshack two years ago, he recommended that Savage, who was part of a Wales team that went 10 competitive games without winning, should be "sitting in a corner with my mouth shut".

But Savage has chosen to reopen old wounds on the day the Wales manager announces his final World Cup qualifying squad for their double-header with Finland and Liechtenstein later this month.

606: DEBATE Was John Toshack right to drop Robbie Savage?

Wales have a potential midfield crisis as Jack Collison (calf), Simon Davies (foot) and Brian Stock (ankle) are out while Koumas, Robinson and Fletcher have all recently retired.

But the Derby County midfielder insists: "John won't pick me now but if he did, I wouldn't go back."

Savage played in Wales' last win over a major nation when Hughes' team beat Italy 2-1 on a memorable night at the Millennium Stadium in October 2002.

Since then Wales have lost a host of experienced internationals. Young talent such as Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley, Wayne Hennessey and David Edwards have been fast-tracked the senior team.

"It's amazing how Welsh football has changed as people seem happy to lose but not by much," said Savage.

"John has signed a new two-year contract but where are we? As the young kids would have come through anyway.

"But John is the man to take Wales forward."

He concluded: "I had a great Wales career as I played in one the best Wales teams ever as we filled The Millennium Stadium regularly and got so close to qualifying - it was a great time."

* Don't miss Robbie Savage's full interview with BBC Wales Football Editor Ian Gwyn Hughes on Sport Wales on BBC TWO Wales on Friday at 2200 BST.

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