Fletcher is unlikely to join Gloucestershire (Getty)

Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson has effectively ruled Duncan Fletcher and John Emburey out of the race to become director of cricket.

The pair had been linked to the county side, who seek to replace Mark Alleyne.

Richardson told BBC Radio Bristol: "Duncan's name would invariably come up but I think he's got different ideas. He isn't currently in the frame.

"John is someone that's been kicking around but again he's not someone we've got in our frame at the moment."

It's a big job and we want a big guy Glos chief executive Tom Richardson

But Richardson is hoping to appoint someone with international experience.

"We're looking for a very strong character, someone with international experience would be ideal.

"We certainly want someone with experience, someone who is a winner. It's a big job and we want a big guy."

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With captain Jon Lewis in temporary charge, Richardson insists the club are in no rush to appoint someone.

"We're not going to panic, we're prepared to wait for the right guy. In the interim, Jon Lewis will be in charge, he's going to be running the cricket department. Does that mean he's going to do the coaching? Emphatically not.

"We're talking through quite how we fit people into that jigsaw puzzle if we have to."