The Ospreys will not be considering Dai Young as their new head coach.
It’s understood negotiations with a number of candidates were already at an advanced stage before the former Wales dual-code captain stepped back from first team duties at Gallagher Premiership club Wasps.
He left the Coventry-based outfit on Tuesday following talks over his future and, in previous interviews, had stated his preferred option for his next job would be in Wales.
However, his shock exit from Wasps after nine years in charge caught rugby and the Ospreys off guard, with officials at the Swansea-based region believing he was happy in England and was contracted for another three years.
They wanted a coach who was available for next season and had narrowed their search down to a short-list of candidates.
Englishman Toby Booth, a respected figure who has had stints with London Irish, Bath and been assisting at Harlequins this season on a short-term deal, is believed to be the favourite to succeed the departed Allen Clarke.
Following Clarke's exit, former Wales boss Mike Ruddock was brought in to review the coaching operation before being installed as performance director with a view to staying on for next season.
Ruddock has been heading up the search for Clarke’s successor and, although he’s known to be an admirer of the work of Young at Wasps, it would require a change in direction from the Ospreys at this late stage for the former prop to be a late entry into the race.
It’s understood the Ospreys haven’t spoken to the former Cardiff Blues coach or his agent, with sources hinting Booth is the prime candidate with ex-Wales and Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peel, who is assistant at Ulster, and New Zealander Ben Herring also persons of interest.
Ospreys, bolstered by the return of some of their injured personnel, recorded a morale-boosting triumph over Peel's province in the Guinness PRO14 last Saturday. It was just their second win of a trying campaign.
