Last Updated: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:03
Wales' Rugby Union chief Roger Lewis is certain that they will tie assistant coach Shaun Edwards down to a new contract.
Current Wasps coach Edwards linked up with the Welsh coaching team on a part-time basis in January after being overlooked by the England set-up. And the defensive coach's work on the training ground has been described as one of the key reasons behind Wales' second Grand Slam in four years in the recent Six Nations.
However Edwards has again been linked with a move to the England coaching team as current coach Brian Ashton's future remains uncertain.
Lewis insists the WRU would not stand in Edwards' way if he wanted to make the switch to England, but he is confident they will keep hold of him.
He told the BBC's Scrum V radio programme: "Shaun has been very honest from the start that his ambition would be one day to coach England and we respect that.
"We would never get in the way of the relationships we develop with people if that is their burning ambition.
"But it makes perfect sense for Shaun, at this particular time, to continue working with us.
"I think we are pretty close, but it's not over until the fat lady sings.
"But I am confident because of the relationship that has been developed between Wales and Shaun."