Rob Andrew has a long relationship with Bates

Newcastle Falcons coach Steve Bates is in talks with the club's chief executive after growing unhappy in his new coaching role.

The 39-year-old has been part of Rob Andrew's coaching staff on Tyneside for seven years but has recently been handed a new role involving technical analysis of opposing teams.

Bates is understood to be unhappy in that new role and also where he now stands in the Falcons' coaching structure alongside director of rugby Andrew and new forwards coach Australian Andrew Blades.

"Steve is talking with John Parkinson about what he wants to do, and whether he wants to stay or go," said Andrew, who formed a half-back partnership with Bates at Wasps in his playing days.

"He doesn't really want to do the role that we have offered him, and he is discussing that."

Should Bates decide to leave Kingston Park, two years before the end of his contract, he is unlikely to be short of offers, despite the Falcons' position six points adrift at the bottom of the Zurich Premiership.