Leeds (England) - A twist of ironic fate has a desperate England, hungry for success after their abysmal World Cup failure, eager to sign Duncan Fletcher, Western Province's coach, to revitalise their Test side in time for the tour of South Africa next summer.

Fletcher put his name forward as successor to South African coach Bob Woolmer in April and was once considered the favourite to take the post. He lost out to however to Natal's Graham Ford. Now he is the top man on the 'wanted list' of coaches being sought by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Inside information today strongly suggests the tough-minded man who has run Western Province fairly successfully since 1993 is the man for the job. With his expert knowledge on South Africa and the conditions from Newlands to Centurion to England tour, which starts on November 1 at Randjiesfontein against the Nicky Oppenheimer XI.

Which may cause a raising of a few eyebrows in South Africa and the United Cricket Board circles. With Woolmer, who steps down as South Africa's coach in five days time, seemingly not interested in the job until after the tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe the ECB had their hand forced when it emerged that an early solution to the coaching post as well as that of captain was expected by the counties and the first class cricket forum.

Although the decision to employ Fletcher as well as replace Alec Stewart as captain with Nasser Hussain have already been made both announcements, say insiders, are expected next Tuesday, two days after the World Cup final. David Graveney, the chairman of selectors has, however, denied that any decision has been made on either positions.

It is known that Fletcher and Hussain are favoured for the posts by ECB boss Lord MacLaurin, Graveney and Brian Bolus, the chairman of the ECB's players' affairs advisory committee and the remainder of the ECB hierarchy will support their findings. Known as a strict disciplinarian and a clear strategical thinker,

Fletcher is not known to suffer fools lightly. He became the Glamorgan coach in 1997, the job offer made during the 1996 South Africa A team tour of England. He piloted a side of willing hard workers with no stars of note to the County Championship. He is now involved in the first season of a three year contract but the ECB have the sort of financial clout to buy him out of that contract.

Ian Botham, appointed by Graveney as an 'official' observer by the England selectors has been reported to be eager for the ECB to sign Fletcher and appoint Hussain. 'Fletcher's the right guy,' Botham was quoted saying yesterday after confirming his views on Friday to Graveney during the Pakistan-Zimbabwe Super Six series game at The Oval in London. Botham's outspoken views on the England coach and captaincy issues have been aired more than once and he has a high opinion of the former Zimbabwe World Cup captain's coaching abilities. 'He is tough and does not give an inch. There are those who might not welcome him because of his strict disciplinarian attitude. 'He believes in a lot of hard work and there those who are going to get a swift kick . . . but that is what is needed if we are to find the right winning formula and rebuild confidence in England,' Botham added.

Which is an interesting comment as South Africa might see a new, tougher England management emerge in South Africa as the ECB look at ways to regroup from the crippling blow of their early exit from the event.

British newspapers still carry large coverage of the tournament, sometimes devoting three inside pages to match reports and after match comment. Had England still been involved coverage would have included heavy back and front page reports. 'We have to start looking somewhere to start our campaign and signing Fletcher is the right move,' he added.