ENGLAND rugby league coach Steve McNamara has been linked with a role at Bath Rugby following the shock exit of the club's director of rugby Gary Gold yesterday afternoon.

Gold, who arrived at the club in the summer of 2012 from Newastle Falcons to head up a new coaching team, left with a short club statement saying only: "The decision was taken following a re-structure in the rugby department and with the best interests of both Gary and the club in mind.

"No further comment will be made until it is appropriate.''

A report in this morning's Telegraph suggested McNamara, who guided England to the semi finals of the World Cup recently, was being lined up as a skills and attack coach, having previously attended a number of coaching sessions at the club and knowing current Bath head coach Mike Ford from his days in rugby league.

England's World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward's name has also also linked with a return to Bath, with whom he served as a coach in 1997.

The news of Gold's departure was greeted with disbelief by many supporters, who also vented their fury at the club for not expanding on the reasons for the move.

Bath's communications director David Flatman took to Twitter to say only: “A difficult situation which we will explain as soon as we are permitted.”

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