Ashton was also head coach of Ireland and Bath during the 1990s

Former England World Cup coach Brian Ashton has been appointed Fylde's technical director for next season.

Ashton, 64, has been involved with the National Two North club in an advisory role this campaign.

"There was never any doubt in my mind that if I wanted to continue it would be here," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I don't want to go back to full-time involvement in rugby but I want to try and help the club develop in areas off the field."

Ashton, who coached England to the World Cup final in 2007, added: "I will be working with Mark Nelson [director of rugby] in exactly the same way as I have done this year.

We're certainly not the finished article which is good news in itself because it gives us something to get our teeth into next year Fylde technical director Brian Ashton

"He's in charge and I'll be helping him out. But instead of appearing four times a week for training I'll be doing it six times."

Fylde could be promoted as champions for the first time in their history at the weekend if they beat Manchester at The Woodlands.

And the Leigh-born coach admits they have surpassed all their original goals.

"It's been fantastic this season," said Ashton. "We never set out at the start of the season to do what we've done.

"We just wanted to challenge ourselves. Coaches and players alike all bought into playing a certain way and develop that as much as we could.

"I think we've all been surprised how much progress we've made. We're certainly not the finished article which is good news in itself because it gives us something to get our teeth into next year.

"We've had a season full of challenge. There's been some pretty exhilarating rugby at times and I think the supporters have really enjoyed watching the players."

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