It may have gone unnoticed on the world stage, but Wales’s hopes of qualifying for the finals of a major tournament for the first time in 50 years were this week put in the hands – or fists, if you like – of a man who could be sent to prison next week.

Most people in the Welsh camp seem convinced Craig Bellamy will thrive on the responsibility of the job – despite the fact he is due to appear in court on Monday on a charge of assaulting a teenage girl in a Cardiff bar last February. But as a patriotic Wales fan, I think it’s criminal that manager John Toshack should even think of giving the captain’s armband to a man with an appalling disciplinary record, both on and off the field.

The 27-year-old Liverpool striker stands in for the injured Ryan Giggs for the European Championship qualifiers against Slovakia and Cyprus with Toshack insisting: ‘‘I just think the extra responsibility, at this particular time, could work for him and us. It may take his mind off other things and he will get a real lift out of being given the leadership.

‘‘I don’t see it as a gamble because many of the younger players look up to him. To them, he is a charismatic player, probably the biggest here at the moment.’’ Really? Then let’s just look at the former Newcastle and Blackburn star’s glowing charisma. Over the past six years, his achievements include:

* Becoming the first Wales player to be sent off for five years;

* Being cautioned by police for assaulting a female student in a nightclub;

* Being banned for butting a Dynamo Kiev opponent and sent off following an incident involving Inter Milan’s Marco Materazzi;

* Being fined by magistrates for using threatening abusive and insulting behaviour;

* Branding Graeme Souness, his manager at Newcastle, a liar during a TV interview – for which he was fined £80,000;

* Sending abusive texts to Alan Shearer during a loan spell at Celtic, saying: ‘Your legs have gone, you’re too old, you’re too slow.’’

That’s only half of the story as far as Bellamy’s lack of discipline is concerned. All of which suggests that handing him the captaincy is the equivalent of America giving the presidency to O J Simpson.

It’s not as if Toshack has no alternative. West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon has led the side before, so has goalkeeper Paul Jones. But the obvious man for the job is Gary Speed, at 37 still a world-class performer – and Bolton’s man of the match in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bellamy’s club.

Speed opted out of international football two years ago, but said early this week that he would "seriously consider" rescinding his decision if asked to help his country. Gary, I can assure you your country needs you just as much as we need Giggsy.

Decent people will never look up to a wayward hothead like Bellamy until he reforms his ways. For now, Toshack should be getting high on Speed. . . and hope that doesn’t give Bellamy any more stupid ideas.