‘TOGETHER stronger’ has been the ethos on which Wales’ successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign has been built and captain Ashley Williams says there is real truth behind the marketing slogan.

Williams hinted that previous campaigns have been blighted by cliques in the squad but the current crop have bought into the team mantra and reaped the benefits.

“We all know that we used to have a lot of pull-outs and we couldn’t really get a full strength squad,” said the Wales skipper.

“But something changed and now everyone always turns up. Even when players are injured they’re still here.

“That just shows the team spirit and I think that has got us through a lot of games – that closeness that we’ve got.

“We’re all friends and there are no cliques any more.

“It’s just a great place to come and work and when times get hard that pulls you through.

“For a long time everybody has been saying that this team can achieve something – the golden generation and all this – and we didn’t.

“It was just a moment that without really having to say it we thought ‘we need to do something now’ and that meant giving extra effort.

“The senior players and the manager had to make sure that the camps are like they are now.”