CHAIRMAN Bill Bolsover says the ball is in Alan Solomons' court to go for the director of rugby position at Worcester Warriors as the deadline for applications looms.

The former Edinburgh chief arrived at Sixways last month and has temporarily taken over the reins from Gary Gold while he has been in South Africa with his family.

After several weeks away from the club, Gold is due to return to Warriors on Monday ahead of their Aviva Premiership home clash against Northampton Saints next Saturday.

But Solomons is expected to remain at the league’s bottom side until the end of the season and provide “support” for Gold and head coach Carl Hogg.

Bolsover said the 67-year-old was exactly what Warriors needed and admitted he was also brought in to fill Ed Griffiths’ shoes.

Griffiths ended his eight-month spell as a consultant at Worcester in September before failing in his attempt to take over the running of the up-for-sale club.

“I appointed Ed purely as a consultant, he was never employed,” Bolsover said.

“He was very good at some of the things he did and not so good at others.

“But he was here as a consultant and concentrated on that.

“Alan is here on the same basis. He is employed on a weekly or monthly contract.

“With Gary going off for his break of three weeks and with where we were in the season it seemed important that we gave Carl support.

“When Gary comes back Alan will stay and he will be able to pick up bits that Ed did when he was here.

“We have always been one down so until we get through to end of this season then I see Gary and Alan working together unless the club is sold and we appoint a DOR.”

Warriors are searching for a new director of rugby after it was announced early last month that Gold would leave to become USA’s head coach next summer.

Applications must be sent in before Friday at 5pm and Bolsover revealed Solomons had yet to express his interest in the top job.

“It is up to him if he wants to put his name in the pot,” Bolsover said.

Solomons has more than 20 years of coaching experience having worked at a long list of clubs including Ulster, Northampton Saints and Edinburgh.

He was assistant coach of South Africa between 1997 and 2000 and most recently a coaching consultant at Bristol at the end of last season.

“Alan has an awful lot of experience, he is even as old as me,” Bolsover added.

“He is quite a firm handler of people and that’s what we felt was needed.

“He is there to support Hoggy.

“Carl still does all of the media duties and is the head coach but he has got someone who he can lean on.

“When Gary is away Alan does assume the role of director of rugby but Hogg is running the rugby side.”