Matty Jones has left his role as Wales Under-21s head coach following an unsuccessful qualification campaign.

The 46-year-old, who was under contract until 2028, had held the role since September 2022 and most recently oversaw a fourth-place finish in Uefa Under-21 Championship qualification.

Wales won only two of their eight group-stage fixtures and suffered heavy defeats against Belgium, Austria and Belarus, and were twice thrashed by Denmark.

In a statement graphic posted on social media, Jones said: "My greatest honour to have done this role, my biggest heartbreak to lose it."

A statement from the Football Association of Wales (FAW) added: "The FAW would like to put on record its gratitude to Matty Jones for his commitment to the Cymru national teams and wish him the very best for the future."

Llanelli-born Jones earned 13 Wales caps before being forced to retire aged 23 due to injuries, and nearly steered Wales to the Euros in his first campaign.

Wales missed out on the play-offs due to their head-to-head record with Czech Republic, though an admin error, which left them without key players, did not help the cause.

During his time in charge of the Under-21s, Jones helped the likes of Joel Colwill, Cian Ashford, Dylan Lawlor, Cameron Congreve and Lewis Koumas develop into full internationals.