John Toshack will resign as Wales boss within 48 hours and has already recommended Ryan Giggs as his replacement.

Former Real Madrid manager Toshack is about to call time on his six-year stint in charge of the national side after suffering a fierce public backlash to Friday's opening Euro 2012 qualifying defeat in Montenegro.

And it now appears that Manchester United veteran Giggs could be offered the chance to give Welsh football a shot in the arm.

Toshack decided that the reaction to the 1-0 loss suggested it was time for him to fall on his sword.

The 62-year-old spoke with Football Association of Wales officials on the flight back from Podgorica on Saturday and informed them that unless the side beat Bulgaria or Switzerland next month he would be minded to quit.

But it seems the strength of feeling upon his return led to him bringing forward the decision.

Toshack contacted the FAW officials and told them he had been upset by the level of criticism.

He said that he would stay on while they found a replacement. He is understood to have been asked his opinion on his successor and has suggested Giggs.

The winger retired from international football three years ago and would be exactly the kind of stellar name that could help reinvigorate football in the Principality.

The FAW have just appointed a new chief execut ive, Jonathan Ford, who is keen to make his mark and the mere suggestion of Giggs's possible arrival will certainly whet the appetite in their Cardiff headquarters.

For the time being though, they will have to piece together a way forward in the light of the disappointing opening defeat.

Wales played poorly during the first half and could have been more than one goal adrift. They rallied after the interval but a late charge failed to bring the equaliser that could have swayed the manager towards staying.

Toshack's former sparring partner Robbie Savage, who quit international football during his reign, said: 'It is time John Toshack left Wales. We need a fresh start, fresh impetus. We need to get the crowds back and I think Toshack has to go. 'He has made enough excuses, he has been in the job six years. He said to judge him on his qualifying campaigns - Wales haven't qualified yet and they have got off to a terrible start again.'

BBC pundit Iwan Roberts echoed those thoughts, saying: 'Our optimism is gone in one game, I don't think there were any positives. Toshack has taken the squad as far as he can. He's been with them since November 2004 and have we progressed? I'm not too sure.'

The jury will remain out on whether Toshack was a success. His reign certainly did not coincide with a vintage era for football in the Principality. He had to contend with a spate of retirements of his senior players and turned instead to the promising crop of youngsters in the Wales Under 21 set-up.

Toshack was well aware that he promoted them before their time, hoping that they would learn quickly and then be able to mount a serious challenge at qualification for a major tournament.

Several players have not come through as he would have liked. Moreover, possibly his most influential player, Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, is still working his way back to full fitness after breaking his leg at the Britannia Stadium last winter.