 Harrison has plenty of admirers following his exploits with Salford |
Salford chairman John Wilkinson says it would be hard for Karl Harrison to remain as coach of the Super League side and take charge of England again. Harrison is being tipped to lead the national side at the World Cup in 2008 despite giving up the role last year.
"Karl is one of the best young coaches around, but I'm not sure he could do both jobs," Wilkinson told BBC Sport.
"I know Brian Noble does a dual role, but he was won things with Bradford and not had success with Great Britain."
With the international focus now turning to the World Cup in Australia, the England job has become highly coveted.
606 DEBATE: Could Harrison do both jobs effectively?
The current incumbent is Warrington boss Paul Cullen, who was in charge for last year's Federations Shield, but Noble and Harrison will also come into contention.
Harrison's star is in the ascendancy after leading Salford into the play-offs for the first time last season.
Tipped for relegation at the start of the year, the Reds finished a hugely creditable fifth, beating Warrington three times during the campaign before losing 52-6 at Bradford in the first round of play-off games.
 | If the England job did come around again we would have to sit down and analyse where we wanted to go John Wilkinson on Karl Harrison's future |
Harrison was duly nominated for the Super League coach of the year award, along with Daniel Anderson and Noble, who moved to Wigan halfway through the season and orchestrated their survival.
But it was Anderson who walked off with the honour after steering St Helens to every trophy on offer in 2006.
"Karl has got everything," said Wilkinson. "He has the ability to coach his players and get the respect from them as well.
"That comes from his gigantic size. He is a very commanding sort of guy when you look at him, but he has also got some very good skills.
"His appointment of his coaching team is a hallmark of his qualities. He is able to identify individuals, like James Lowes and Scott Naylor, and bring them into the club.
"He also works well with Steve Simms, the director of football. They are constantly looking to lower the age of the team and will be looking now for players now will become available in two years' time."
Harrison spent two years as England coach before resigning in August 2006 to spend more time with his family.
He has already declared he would like to be involved with the team again and will hope the Rugby Football League will give him the chance to pitch for the job.
| Our aim is win trophies and make everyone connected with the club very proud |
However, his first priority lies with Salford after signing a new three-year contract.
"If the England job did come around again we would have to sit down and analyse where we wanted to go," said Wilkinson.
"We are now taking ourselves up a few notches here at Salford and it would have to fit in with our plans."
With the Reds looking to build on last season's success at the same time as they continue to plan for their move to a new stadium in 2009, the next few years are very important to the Reds.
"We cannot afford to waste them," said Wilkinson. "Just because we are moving into a new stadium in 2009 does not mean we can sit back and hope everything else takes care of itself.
"We've got to continue developing players and try to increase our supporter base.
"If we can do that, then I think we can be on a footing with any side at the top of the Super League table.
"Our aim is win trophies and make everyone connected with the club very proud."
Salford's average gate at The Willows last year was 4,700.
They hope the move to their new arena at Barton will boost that figure considerably after seeing crowds shoot up at both Hull FC and Warrington following their decisions to relocate.
| We don't get a look-in with some players who come onto the market because we cannot afford them and because they want to play in a modern stadium |
"In revenue terms, I think we get about �600,000 less in income through the gates than the other clubs in the top half of the Super League table," said Wilkinson.
"If we can get an average of 8,000 in our first season in the new stadium - and I think that is achievable - then we can start going for players we cannot afford now."
The new stadium, which will have seating for 22,000 spectators, will also increase Salford's overall appeal.
"We don't get a look-in with some players who come onto the market because we cannot afford them and because they want to play in a modern stadium," said Wilkinson.
"But our new stadium will change that. We will have the best facilities bar none."
The BBC Sport website published images of the proposed stadium last month, and Wilkinson is clearly excited about the �35m project.
"To think that I had some important role to play in taking Salford to a new arena that will be there for future generations fills me with a lot of happiness," he said.
 The Allianz Arena in Munich is one Ove Arup's constructions |
"The city of Salford deserves a new stadium and this will be an iconic venue."
As well as a four-star hotel, classrooms, a health and fitness suite, and a car park that can accommodate 1,600 vehicles, the stadium will also boast a translucent plastic roof that will allow people travelling along the M60 to get a decent view of the pitch as they drive by.
With Ove Arup responsible for its design, it is bound to be "iconic", too.
One of the world's leading engineering firms, they have already been responsible the City of Manchester Stadium, the Allianz Arena in Munich as well as the main Olympic venues in both Sydney and Beijing.
"We've seen what a new stadium has done for the likes of Bolton, Wigan and Warrington, and we want one of our own," said Wilkinson, whose dedication to the city of Salford has earned him an OBE.
He also wants to maximises its use, hence talk of a possible link-up with Manchester United's reserve team.
But speculation about rugby union neighbours Sale Sharks moving in is wide of the mark.
"Manchester United reserves would be a better fit," said Wilkinson. "We may even be able to build a ticket around watching United's reserves and Salford's first team."
Wilkinson will be 62 in February and recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as Reds chairman, but his enthusiasm for the club remains undimmed.
With his continued presence at the helm, Salford's future looks very rosy indeed.
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