Bath Rugby are close to a decision on whether to install a director of rugby – and Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan is understood to be in the frame should the post be created.

The rugby mastermind is currently working as an advisor to Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath, having joined the Kingsholm set-up last month.

But the Chronicle has learnt that McGeechan's deal with the Cherry and Whites is flexible, meaning that a switch to Bath would, from a contractual perspective, be straightforward.

The issue of whether or not to install a director of rugby at The Rec to work alongside head coach Steve Meehan has been bubbling away for months. A final decision is expected to be made shortly.

The appointment of a rugby director would free up Meehan to concentrate on playing issues, with the new DoR working alongside chief executive Nick Blofeld to entice players to the club and hammer out contracts.

Although new to contract negotiation, having only arrived at Bath this season, Blofeld has already proven to be an astute operator.

When Lewis Moody announced his surprise move to Bath from Leicester last week, the England flanker made direct reference to Blofeld's positive involvement in the negotiation process.

Meehan, who is contracted to remain at Bath until at least 2012, has operated without a director of rugby ever since he became Bath head coach in the summer of 2006.

Should Bath take the plunge and persuade McGeechan to sign, then it would be another shot in the arm for a club already oozing confidence.

Bath have won their last six Guinness Premiership games, while Moody's switch from arch-rivals Leicester has injected a further spring into the side's collective step.

McGeechan has previously had spells as director of rugby with Scotland and London Wasps. The Leeds-born former Scottish international has also led the British and Irish Lions on four tours.

Gloucester this week confirmed that McGeechan's relationship with the club was "open- ended".

Meanwhile, speculation that new investors are poised to take a stake in Bath Rugby have been played down by Blofeld.

In September the newly arrived chief executive continued the position of his predecessor, Bob Calleja, by insisting that club owner Andrew Brownsword was open to approaches from new investors but that such approaches would be closely scrutinised.

"Nothing has changed since the start of the season," said Blofeld.

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