Ryan Giggs has announced that he has resigned as coach of the Wales national team.
The former Manchester United winger had stepped away from his role in November 2020 after being arrested.
Giggs was charged of controlling and coercive behaviour against his former girlfriend Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020.
He is also accused of assaulting Ms Greville, causing her actual bodily harm, and of the common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on 1 November 2020.
Giggs, 48 has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains on bail. The trial at Manchester Crown Court had been due to start on Jan. 24, but has been delayed until Aug. 8.
“After much consideration, I am standing down from my position as manager of the Wales men’s national team with immediate effect,” Giggs said in a statement.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to manage my country, but it is only right that the Wales FA, the coaching staff and the players prepare for the (World Cup) tournament with certainty, clarification and without speculation around the position of their head coach.”
He added: “Whilst I am confident in our judicial process, I had hoped that the case would have been heard earlier to enable me to resume my managerial responsibilities.
“Through nobody’s fault the case has been delayed. I do not want the country’s preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case.”
Giggs was appointed Wales boss in January 2018 and helped them secure qualification for Euro 2020.
Since he first stepped down Giggs’ former assistant Rob Page has been in interim charge and guiding them to their first World Cup finals since 1958.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) had accepted Giggs’ resignation.
A statement on Monday read, “The FAW places on record its gratitude to Ryan Giggs for his tenure as manager of the Cymru Men’s National Team and appreciates the decision he has taken, which is in the best interests of Welsh football.
“The full focus of the FAW and the Cymru Men’s National Team is on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year.”
