A report in the Times suggested that Lloyd wanted to leave after next year's World Cup in June due to England's poor performances in Australia this winter.

According to the newspaper he was so disappointed that he had even thought about leaving during the current tour. There has also been speculation that Lloyd would be sacked while England were still Down Under.

However Lloyd says his contract does not expire until September 1999 and that there is no rush for any decision on his future.

"The position has not changed," he said.

"My contract is up at the end of the 1999 season and I will be sitting down before that with my bosses and discussing where they and I want to go."

If Lloyd did decide to call it a day after next summer's one-day jamboree, England would need to appoint a new coach in time to forge a Test team to take on New Zealand in the four-match series starting in July.

South Africa's Bob Woolmer is favourite for the job and he has said in the past that he is open to offers after the World Cup.

Lloyd has had an uneasy relationship with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

In September he earned a "severe reprimand" for comments he made about the bowling action of Sri Lankan spinner Mutthiah Muralitharan after a one-off test against Sri Lanka.