Kear dismisses England link

Wakefield boss John Kear has issued a statement playing down links with the England coaching vacancy.

Kear, the oldest coach in Super League at 55, has been tipped as a potential successor to Tony Smith, who stepped down following the Four Nations tournament earlier this month.

But Kear, who coached the national side during the 2000 World Cup, has distanced himself from suggestions he could be interested in a second spell in charge, saying: "While I'm extremely flattered to be linked with the national team, I still have a job to do at Wakefield."

He added: "Nobody from the Rugby Football League has been in touch with me or the club and I'm concentrating on the task in hand at the Hearwell Stadium.

"I've been tasked by the Wakefield board of directors of providing the best possible first team, developing a successful career path for players all the way through from the under-18 team and ensuring we have a football operation that will satisfy an application for the next phase of Super League in two years' time.

"Those are my priorities and my focus."

Kear, who led Sheffield and Hull to Challenge Cup success, was among the favourites for the England position along with surprise candidate Mike Ford, the former Wigan player now England rugby union defence coach.

Bradford coach Steve McNamara, Hull KR boss Justin Morgan and Great Britain legend Ellery Hanley have also been linked.