WALES boss Chris Coleman blasted his critics and insisted he was never tempted by the Crystal Palace job as it was announced that he has signed a new deal with the Football Association of Wales.

The FAW confirmed Coleman’s new two-year deal at a press conference in Cardiff ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Finland at the Cardiff City Stadium (kick-off 6pm).

The former Fulham boss insisted he was happy to remain as national manager but accepted that he should have signed the new deal sooner.

“People have spoken about whether I would sign a new deal, but I am delighted to extend it and I am looking forward to the challenges that will come,” he said.

“I have two years of experience in the job and we will be better for it.”

Coleman had been linked with the vacancy at his old club Palace, but claimed he was never tempted to take the job and was not approached by the Selhurst Park club.

“The honour of doing the Welsh job is bigger than with any job I will ever do,” he said.

"I had the chance to sign the contract earlier and I didn’t. In hindsight that was a mistake.

“It has been really hard at times but at other times it has been fantastic and I don't want to hand that feeling on to someone else. I want to finish what I started with these players.”

Coleman’s new contract will not be welcomed by some Welsh fans but he believes the vast majority are fully behind him and the team.

“People on websites don’t know what they’re talking about,” said Coleman. “They haven’t got an ounce of football intelligence but the people who I meet around the country are absolutely brilliant and the fans in Belgium were very supportive.”

And the 43-year-old also had words of advice for Craig Bellamy, who has now retired from international football and was touted as a candidate to replace Coleman.

“If you’ve been a good player it doesn’t always make you a good manager,” he said. “If Craig decides to do that the proof will be in the pudding.

“It doesn’t matter how good a manager you think you’ll be you have to get in there and prove you can do it.”

FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford denied that they had considered any alternatives to Coleman and backed his manager to deliver over the next two years.

“I would hope every Welsh football fan would support the aim of qualifying for Euro 2016,” said Ford. “I am confident that Chris Coleman is the man to do that.”

But Coleman appealed for a realistic view of what Wales can achieve going into the Euro 2016 campaign.

“People have to be realistic,” he said. “We’ve got Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey and people say you should qualify with those two players but you never qualify with two players. You need to be strong in every position at this level.

“There is a responsibility on Rambo and Baley to continue their club form with us. If we can get them on the pitch with everyone else we’ve got a good chance.

“If we win a few games we could qualify. If we lose a few I’m going to get the sack. I know that.”