Edinburgh set to offer Robinson a return to coaching

Andy Robinson, who lost his job as England's head coach last November and has been out of professional rugby ever since, is close to striking a deal with Edinburgh, the Magners League team at the centre of an unholy club-versus-country row last month that almost left the entire game in Scotland in the hands of the lawyers.

Robinson has had a series of discussions with officials from the Scottish Rugby Union, who recently brought Edinburgh back under central control after a public argument with the club's owners, and with Frank Hadden, the national coach. He will make the move north if personal terms are agreed.

Keen to return to hands-on coaching after the bumpiest of rides as Sir Clive Woodward's successor at Test level, the former Bath flanker had been expected to take on a director of rugby-style role at his old club, whom he guided to a ground-breaking European title in 1998. But moves by disgruntled Recreation Ground grandees to install a new hierarchy were resisted by Andrew Brownsword, the chairman and the club's principal financier.

A link-up with Edinburgh would allow Robinson to operate at the top end of the club game. The Scottish side have qualified for this season's Heineken Cup, which is more than Bath are able to claim.