England want full-time head coach

Lewis became executive chairman of the RFL in 2002

The future England head coach role looks set to be a full-time job, Rugby Football League chairman Richard Lewis has told BBC Sport.

England have been without a coach since Tony Smith resigned for family reasons in November 2009.

Lewis is hopeful, however, that a new coach will be in place for the upcoming international against France in June.

"It is right to have a full-time appointment - it is important we have someone dedicated to the job," he said.

England beat New Zealand en route to the Four Nations final in 2009 but lost heavily to Australia in the final in November and have been without a coach since.

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But Lewis, who is in the process of interviewing for the England job, said the national side's top players were not suffering despite the absence of an international boss.

"Behind the scenes there is a lot of support being given to our top players," he said. "We've created an elite training squad as a result of the 2008 World Cup.

"A lot of sports science and medicine has been applied to our top players.

"So although we don't have an announcement for the new England head coach, when the mid-season international against the French comes along our team will be ready and we'll have a coach in place.

"We are interviewing prospective candidates. We don't have another international match until June so we do have the luxury of having time on our side."