RYAN Giggs' apparent reluctance to pull on the red of Wales midweek while wearing the red of Manchester United at weekends calls into question more than simply the 23-year-old's allegiance.

It raises doubts about the sanity of anyone who thought Giggs might participate in Tuesday night's friendly against the Republic of Ireland - the 12th since he made his Welsh debut in 1991 - after him missing the previous 11.

Hercule Poirot's services are hardly required to detect the pattern, it would seem, is developing here.

And the furore caused by this latest non-appearance finally suggests that the penny has dropped.

The relevance of this affair to the life of Brian Flynn is that if the distinguished former Clarets player and rising Wrexham manager had picked up a Wales shirt covered in thorns, there would have been less hesitation in him putting it on than Michael Johnson shows blasting out of the blocks.

Playing for Wales for whom he won 66 caps , to Flynn, was not so much a call to duty as a call to arms.

It was about identity, tradition, hopes and aspirations.

"It made me feel like I was 7ft 8ins tall," he said, which for a man who never exceeded 5ft 3ins is no mean accomplishment.

Of course, you don't need to be the size of Goliath if you've got some pebbles and a sling. Flynn's weapons were an exuberant array of skills, that made him one of the most exciting midfield artists of the 1970s, and a fierce determination to succeed, the sort prevalent in a champion fighter.

"He was also a bit of a loner," recalled Peter Noble, a midfield battler whose forays into opposition territory frequently culminated in spectacular goals.

"He enjoyed a drink with the lads, of course, but he was very single-minded.

"Whatever he set out to do, he usually achieved.

"He didn't get himself involved in a lot of the silly stuff - he was someone who maintained his focus.

"None of this would have set him apart, however, if it wasn't for the fact that he was a very skilful player.

"But that single-mindedness gave him his hard edge."

Certainly to talk with Flynn leaves you in little doubt that he is a man fired by ambition.

When he says he wants to manage at the highest possible level, few will discount his chances of doing so.

With resolve and efficiency, he has transformed Wrexham from a struggling Third Division outfit into viable promotion candidates for the First.

He says they're "sitting comfortably" but beneath the caution lies a strong conviction that Wrexham prove difficult to deny this season.

"There's a lot of teams on 45 points but to be honest I don't look at the table much," said Flynn who was in a relaxed, jovial frame of mind when we talked this week.

"I know what we can do and that's what I concentrate on.

"To be honest the opposition is a secondary concern.

"Obviously we discuss certain things they do like set-pieces and the like.

"But we have a squad capable of achieving.

"They're a very hard-working, honest set of lads.

"They've got ability but sometimes it takes more.

"You need a certain togetherness.

"And if you've experienced the situation in the past it always helps you.

"But I very much believe on concentrating on what you can do - you can't affect the fate of others." Much of Flynn's football philosophy stems from his time at Burnley and his declaration that the man from whom he learned most was former Burnley boss Jimmy Adamson doesn't smack of trying to please the locals. Flynn settled into East Lancashire from the time he first came to Burnley as a 14-year-old and is married to a Lancastrian, Liz.

"He set a lot of my standards, in football and in life," said Flynn.

"He talked about the sacrifice involved in becoming a professional footballer but always stressed the rewards.

"There was a saying he had that you should play with a chuckle in your feet.

"And I think he was right - it's a serious game but never one you should play without a smile on your face.

"I've tried to implement a lot of the policies he had and those of other backroom staff as well, Joe Brown, Brian Miller, George Bray and Harry Potts.

"They were a major influence on my early career and to a large extent still are."

Though now an adopted Lancastrian, something which despite his affinity to Wales Flynn readily acknowledges, it is necessary to return to his roots to find the essence of the man.

His hometown, Port Talbot, where rugby is not merely sport but religion, is a steel town and dad Jim - whom Flynn staunchly admired - spent his life in the industry.

Steel might have been the product the town is most renowned for, but the word also characterised the people.

Rich pickings were not plentiful but richness of character, most extravagantly expressed on the football fields, made life in the town a mostly joyous experience.

Flynn took easily to both football codes but it wasn't long before the round-ball game held sway. He joined Burnley as an apprentice and made his First Division debut in 1974 in a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, a team who would suffer greatly against him when he made the transition to manager (Arsenal, the defending League champions were dumped out of the FA Cup third round against Wrexham in January 1992).

In 1977 he was allowed to transfer to Leeds United for £175,000 and immediately forged a cohesive and potent midfield partnership with Tony Currie.

Rejoining the Clarets in 1982, he was a huge influence on the epic FA Cup campaigns of that season which ended sombrely in relegation to Division Three.

He finished his playing career at Wrexham under Dixie McNeil whom he succeeded in a player-manager capacity.

That he succeeded in management from the start is no surprise to those who know him.

But despite his meteoric rise, he's no obsessive.

"The moment I'm not able to sleep at night I'll pack it in," insisted Flynn.

"If you're surrounded by good people, the pressures are not as great (former Clarets striker Kevin Reeves is Flynn's assistant).

"Football management is a time-consuming job.

"But I am able to get away from it.

"For instance, providing we don't have a game, I never work on Sundays.

"I like to play golf and I spend a lot of time with Liz just relaxing."

Today won't exactly have been a relaxing day for the Flynn household despite his assertion that Wrexham's FA Cup fifth round tie against Birmingham is just "another day out".

"Everything after and indeed including the West Ham game (who were overcome in a third round replay) has been a bonus," said Flynn.

A few more bonuses along the way and Flynn won't need Arthur or Guinevere to confirm he's won the jackpot.

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