FORMER Colchester and Leyton Orient boss Geraint Williams has been named as the new Wales Under-21 manager.

The 50-year-old, who won 13 caps for his country between 1988 and 1996, succeeds Brian Flynn, who left the post after eight years when his contract ended in May.

An FAW statement read: "The FAW is delighted to welcome Geraint Williams as the new intermediate teams manager.’’ Wales manager Chris Coleman held talks with several candidates for the role, with former Wales defender Robert Page believed to have been among them.

In his role as intermediate teams manager, Williams will also take charge of the national Under-17 and Under-19 sides.

His first game in charge of the Under-21s will come next month when Wales face Armenia in a European Championship qualifier in Wrexham.

Wales currently lie third in Group Three having picked up 10 points from six games.

The Czech Republic top the standings with 16 points, Armenia lie second with 11 points.

During his playing career Williams made nearly 700 appearances across spells with Bristol Rovers, Derby, Ipswich and Colchester.

After a brief spell as caretaker boss at Colchester, he took the full-time role in 2006.

He guided the club to a best ever league finish when they came 10th in the Championship in 2007, but he was sacked in September 2008 shortly after they were relegated to League One.

He took over at Leyton Orient in February 2009 but left the club just over a year later.