Salvage job.

Former British and Irish Lions and England coach Mike Ford has emerged as a frontrunner to replace former Northampton boss Jim Mallinder on a short-term deal, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.

Mallinder’s run as the longest standing director of rugby in the Aviva Premiership came to an abrupt end on Tuesday afternoon, after a string of bad results, including a humiliating loss to a struggling Ospreys side at Franklin’s Garden on Saturday in the Champions Cup.

Northampton’s attack coach Alan Dickens has been appointed as an interim head coach, but the club are hoping to bring in some experience to steer the ship until the end of the season, but Ford their number one target, having done a similar job in the past for the likes of Newcastle and Toulon.

The 52 year-old has signed to take charge of USA club Dallas Griffins, one of nine teams forming Major League Rugby, a US competition which aims to begin play in 2018. It is understood however that the Griffins are now not due to take part until 2019, leaving Ford free to take up a short-term role with the Saints.