Wasps director of rugby David Young has revealed he wants to be coach of Wales when his contract with the Gallagher Premiership giants ends in 2023.
But the 51-times capped former front-rower admits he is prepared to look elsewhere for an international job if he isn't in the frame to succeed Wayne Pivac in the Welsh hot-seat.
Former Scarlets boss Pivac has signed a four-year deal to replace fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland after the 2019 World Cup.
Young's club contract ends at the Ricoh Arena when Pivac's deal is up with the WRU.
And the 52-year-old prop, who made three Lions appearances on their 1989 tour of Australia, says he wants to make the move up from club rugby to the Test arena.
"I would like to coach international rugby after that and if Wales was an option that is something I would be interested in," Young told the BBC.
"Hopefully by that time I would be a credible candidate but if things don't go well in the next four years I would not be in that position.
"I want to coach internationally but it does not have to be Wales. I would prefer it to be Wales because I am Welsh but if I had to look elsewhere I would.
"My main focus over the next four years is to make Wasps competitive every season. It is a great club but after my time here I would like to get an international gig."
Young has a stellar CV to take on the Wales job being our only director of rugby or head coach in the professional game in rugby in Britain and Ireland.
Wales' four regions have non-Welshmen at the helm but Young hopes that could well change in the future.
"We are sometimes own worst enemy in Wales because we are always harder on our own," said Young.
"Nobody is saying we are the finished articles. Even after 16 years as a director of rugby I am learning every day and would like to think I am getting better.
"We tend to not get behind our coaches or value them and we have had some great coaches in our recent past.
"I am not sure they are appreciated in Wales, you are perhaps appreciated a bit more over the [Severn] Bridge.
"When my contract has come up for renewal with Wasps and I have decided to stay, I have had numerous options in England but not in Wales - not that I really considered that was something I wanted to do at the time.
"But it seems Welsh regions do not want Welsh coaches, which is sad because we need to get behind them.
"We have good young coaches but there are doubts whether they are going to be given an opportunity. If they are given the chance will we get behind them?
"If you have one bad year in a region that's it and nobody will credit you for getting better.
"We just need to stop the negativity and back them."
