Wales manager Chris Coleman will walk - John Hartson

Coleman guided his national side to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in France, where they lost to eventual winners Portugal.

But Wales' 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland last night saw them fail to qualify for next year's World Cup.

James McClean scored a dramatic winner as the Republic of Ireland leapfrogged Coleman's side into second place and secured the play-off spot.

This means Coleman will now have to wait three years to have another crack at the international tournament whip - Euro 2020 - if he chooses to stick around.

But Hartson, who scored 14 goals in 51 games for Wales, thinks the time is right for the former Fulham boss to move on to pastures new.

“Personally, I think he’ll walk away now,” Hartson told BBC 5 Live Sport. “He has been Wales’ most successful manager, I think. 

“I know you might look to 1958, a World Cup quarter final, but to take this group of players into a semi-final of the Euros, to have come so close, taken it to the very last game to make the play-offs.

“They were not beaten in this campaign but obviously tonight is where it really mattered.”

After suffering only one defeat in the qualification and turning a struggling nation into giant-slayers on the world stage - Coleman has done his international reputation no damage at all.

And Hartson is confident that clubs would instantly come circling if the 47-year-old became available.

“I don’t think he’ll be short on offers,” Hartson added. 

“He’s proved himself as the Wales manager and I think he’s lined up for a big job if that’s what Chris wants to do.

“I think it’s a question only Chris will be able to answer.”