CRAIG BELLAMY was known as a hothead during his playing days.
But the new Wales boss, 45, plans to use a little TLC in his first senior managerial gig.
From using a golf club to attack Liverpool team-mate John Arne Riise, throwing a chair and wrestling on the floor with Newcastle first-team coach John Carver or constantly berating match officials, Bellamy’s fiery temperament preceded him.
Aware of his reputation, the firebrand ex-forward addressed it head on when named Wales boss — and wants to change the way people think about him.
Bellamy outlined his calmer side ahead of his debut in the hot seat when Wales host Turkey in Friday’s Nations League clash in Cardiff.
He said: “I have a certain level of non-negotiables but I do like feedback from players.
“I believe I can help players develop and have an impact on how we play.
“I also believe players can help me coach and we work together. I’m not a dictator.
“Without the ball, I’m non-negotiable. With the ball, I am quite caring and all about love.
“I need my players to feel free. I can’t put any shackles on.
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“If you give the ball away and you hear me in the background yelling, then it’s not going to help or improve the player. I will allow my players to be the best they can be.
“I’ll be supportive, positive and encouraging. I like giving confidence to players, letting them know how good they are and how much I like seeing them play. It allows you to gain trust.”
Bellamy played for seven Premier League clubs including the Reds, Toon, Manchester City and West Ham.
He has an extensive list of managers to tap into as well as the coaching experiences gained as Anderlecht Under-21 manager and two years as assistant boss to Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
Among those Bellamy has approached since taking the job include Leicester boss and fellow Welshman Steve Cooper.
He added: “I am my own person but there’s a big range of managers I am able to take knowledge from — Martin O’Neill, Kenny Dalglish, Sir Bobby Robson, Gordon Strachan, Roberto Mancini . . . you take little bits.
“I think about what I have seen, what I liked, what I didn’t like. How I’d like to be spoken to and treated to get the best out of me.
“I have a lot of respect for footballers. I really admire and care for them as well.
“That was key for me as a player. If I knew you cared for me, I knew I was going to do well for you.”
The goal for Bellamy is qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.
And the Nations League — with Iceland and Montenegro also in Group B4 — represents a bedding-in process to achieve that ambition.
Bellamy, who wants to play an attacking, high-pressing game, said: “Do I want to win every game? Of course.
“Over this six-game period in the Nations League, I want to create a clear identity of how we play. Are we the best team physically? I’m not sure.
“But tactically and the knowledge that our players are going to take on board, I believe that is going to give us an advantage where we can adapt in games.
“We will always have a solution. There’s no panic. When we go into the World Cup qualifiers we’re a machine running.
“It will take a lot of work on the training pitch. There will be a lot of hours in meetings. Some will get it quick, some will take longer. No problem.”
Proud Welshman Bellamy won 78 caps and scored 19 goals for his country between 1998-2013.
Bellamy, who lost out on the Wales job to Ryan Giggs in 2018, revealed in July he had already watched Turkey EIGHT times.
And he has not stopped there. The Cardiff-born boss added: “I watched Turkey against Austria just before bed last week. I’m constantly looking for certain habits.
“I’m very fortunate I have a patient partner. I’m ready. I have been waiting for this. It’s what I wanted.
“I trust in the people I have with me, the players and the work we’ll have done in the week to allow everything to stay reasonably calm.”
