WALES manager Chris Coleman admits his new contract may not be signed before Euro 2016, writes Andrew Penman.

Coleman, whose current deal expires this summer, is the first Wales boss to qualify for a major tournament since Jimmy Murphy at the 1958 World Cup.

The 45-year-old’s success has put him on the radar of Premier League chairmen.

Ahead of friendlies against Northern Ireland and Ukraine, he insists he wants to stick with Wales but says a new contract is still some way off being agreed and may not be signed before the tournament in France.

“We opened negotiations last Monday,” said Coleman.

"It never went very far but I didn't expect the first negotiations to be, 'Great, is that it? Let's do it' – it's not going to be like that. We are apart.

"Ideally, it will be done before we go to the tournament,” he added. “We have a bit of time to make sure we concentrate on that.

“Ideally you want it done sooner rather than later.”

Asked if it could drag on until after the Euros, Coleman said: "If we don't agree then it won't be done.”

And on the prospect of returning to club management, the former Fulham and Coventry City manager said: "I wouldn't say someone has sat me down and said, 'Are you coming to us?'

"It doesn't work like that.

"Managers are stocks and shares, aren't we?

"At the minute, it has gone well with Wales.

"This time two years ago there wouldn't have been a hint of someone else.

"I'd have been in a long list of names if there was a job up to apply for because there is only so many jobs.

"Of course, at the minute, it is good.

"But I haven't worked this hard to where we are to start thinking about a job offer somewhere else.

"What I think about is what is in front of me.

"I hope everyone knows what it means to me to manage Wales and to do well in this tournament and that's all I am building towards.

"I am not thinking about the World Cup campaign and I'm not thinking about my contract.

"We have two games to prepare for what is coming in the summer. That's all I'm thinking about.”