The raw emotion still lingering following the death of Gary Speed was a constant presence through what his successor as Wales manager Chris Coleman called "the most difficult press conference I'm ever likely to do".

Coleman took over from his former international team-mate, who died in November, knowing he faces key tasks even before he can get his feet comfortably under the table at the Football Association of Wales headquarters in Cardiff.

And during an inquisition he handled with great dignity and with the right degree of respect to predecessor Speed amid his own personal pride, Coleman was fully aware of the juggling act he must now perform.

The former Fulham manager must live with, as well as build on, the expectations lifted by the final few months of Speed's tenure when he took the first steps towards leading Wales out of the darkness with a young and rapidly maturing team.

Coleman was appointed the new Wales manager on Thursday. Photo: Getty

He must swiftly pull together a squad still mourning the manager who became their mentor and who still bear the scars of his loss, some of them very publicly.

And Coleman needs to address the concerns of Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, the young Wales captain and a player of such talent that will be a vital component if he is to achieve the goals Speed set out for Wales before his death.

Others from within the Welsh camp, including Swansea's Ashley Williams, via his Twitter account, have offered public advice to Coleman to try not fix what they feel is not broken.

He must also decide the future of Speed's influential assistant Raymond Verheijen. The outspoken Dutchman was also seen to be keen for the status quo to remain and has significant support for his views and approach within the dressing room.

These are the conversations Coleman must have to set the platform for his time in charge, but he clearly has the full support of the FAW, who have also been very careful to show respect to the legacy of Speed while choosing the next manager.

So Coleman's task is to take the best Speed left behind, with an approach his players felt extremely comfortable and confident about, while putting his own stamp on an appointment he regards as the "highlight of his career - a calling".

It is a delicate balance but one Coleman is in shape to address, revealing he would meet Ramsey to discuss his worries and have those difficult conversations, but with the warning: "The tail can't wag the dog."

The dust has yet to settle on Welsh football after the death of their young manager - indeed it may never settle fully - but Coleman is ready to accept the challenge.

For Coleman himself, this unscheduled appearance as a manager at international level is also the opportunity to rehabilitate his own reputation following a career that started with fine work at Fulham but stalled amid political differences at Spanish side Real Sociedad after promising beginnings.

Coleman had a difficult time before being sacked at financially-troubled Coventry City and suffered difficulties at his last job with Larissa in Greece.

Despite the comments of the influential Ramsey and claims that veteran Craig Bellamy may need to be persuaded to continue his revitalised Wales career, Coleman is winning plenty of support from respected figures within football who recall how he led Fulham to their then highest Premier League finish of ninth in 2004.

Former Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe told BBC Sport: "This is a sensible choice.

"We need a Welshman in charge and I do not think there were too many other candidates around who could come in.

"Chris is a good man and a proud Welshman, so he will be passionate about the job and want to carry on the good work started by Gary.

"I don't think there were too many candidates who were going to move from a club to take the job.

"Chris did very well with Fulham, he was available and he was obviously in the minds of the FAW when Gary got the job last time.

"He didn't have a great time at Coventry but that was more one of those things that he was there at a time when they were going through some tough times. Whoever has followed him hasn't done very well either.

"He will have a bit of work on his hands when he gets going and of course things won't be the same as they were under Gary because Chris will want to put his own stamp on it, but if we can keep keep things going as they were that would be fantastic.

"We have got a group of players who are maturing game by game and when you look at who is the best available with the credentials to do this job then Chris is a good choice who deserves support."

Fellow countryman Tony Pulis, also called for Coleman to be given support and time in his task, with the Stoke manager saying: "It is difficult due to the circumstances surrounding Gary, but Chris knew Gary very well and everybody in Wales will understand.

"He just needs a little bit of luck, a little bit of time as we all do. I think he will be given a bit more time and certainly a lot more grace. He's had great experience and he's worked in the Premier League for a long time.

"He'll know the players back to front as well. All the people who helped Gary, helped him get results while he was in the job, should get behind Chris now and the country can push forward."