Melville: I'm ready for a new challenge

Nigel Melville revealed last night that he is considering his future at Wasps after six years of running London's most successful club.

The former England captain's admission raises the intriguing prospect of his being offered a challenging new role at Gloucester, filling the vacancy which will be created by Philippe Saint-Andre's imminent departure. Melville, who has taken Wasps to one Premiership title and three Twickenham cup finals, denied he had been approached by Gloucester but confirmed that a release clause allows him to opt out of his contract at the end of the season.

'It is true that I am contemplating whether to exercise that clause,' he said. 'After six years, I have been thinking whether it's time to move on. Maybe it is.

'If I were to go at the end of the season, I would make sure that Wasps were left in the best possible shape. I have not been approached by Gloucester, and if I were I would need to look at it. Gloucester is a very big club with wonderful support and huge potential.' Already in part-time control of England Under 21s, he will almost certainly be offered the job full time.

The Yorkshireman's future will be the subject of talks tonight with Wasps owner Chris Wright, who has still to confirm the club's proposed move to Wycombe Wanderers FC next season from Loftus Road.

'We want Nigel to stay. We get on incredibly well,' said Wright. Saint-Andre, due to be named as manager of Bourgoin on Sunday with his Gloucester assistant Laurent Seigne as head coach, said yesterday that his decision to drop Henry Paul last month could have contributed to the collapse of his contract negotiations with club owner Tom Walkinshaw, who originally signed the player. 'I was right to leave Henry out,' said the ex-France captain. 'Then he criticised my coaching, my management, everything.'