Former Ireland head coach Declan Kidney is one of the names being linked with the vacant job at London Irish.

The struggling Premiership club announced today that Director of Rugby Brian Smith has left the Exiles by mutual consent.

Kidney is one of the early contenders to replace Smith, but the former Grand Slam winning coach is likely to face stiff competition after the assistant coach with the Chiefs in New Zealand, Tom Coventry emerged as the favourite for the position.

A two-time Heineken Cup winner with Munster, Kidney served as Director of Sport and Physical Activity at UCC after leaving the Ireland job in 2013.