WALES football chiefs are hoping to persuade national boss Mark Hughes to take on a wider-ranging role in charge of the game across the country.

Hughes (pictured) is without a club for next season after being released by Blackburn and the Football Association of Wales would like him to devote more time to his role with them.

Hughes still hopes to carry on playing, but as he is paid as a full-time manager by the FAW, the Welsh would like to involve him more in their youth set-up and promotional activities.

Renegotiating Hughes' Wales contract, which pays around £140,000 a year and has two years still to run, could be costly but FAW president Des Shanklin said: "I'm sure Mark will be a great manager for Wales for years to come.

"We would like him to be in charge of everything and we will sit down to discuss it with him as soon as we can.

"I'm sure that Mark will be one of the best managers at whatever level he chooses and I hope that it will be with Wales.

"We will try to sort things out before the European Championship qualifiers start." Wales are aware that their manager could be targeted to fill vacancies at Premiership and First Division clubs next season after being linked with Preston this term. Hughes said: "I am committed to Wales, I want to see out my contract. Improvements have been made and I want to be the one who benefits from them.

"I don't like the 'full-time' or 'part-time' tags. In my mind I have always been full-time."