Otley have launched their search for a new director of rugby.

Adverts are being placed in rugby papers and on websites in a bid to get a new man in position for next season.

The club’s interim director of rugby Ryan Duckett recently took up a new job in Derbyshire and cannot continue in the role beyond the end of the current campaign.

The club’s players were told of the desire to recruit a new director of rugby when they reported for training on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s SSE National League Two North game at Caldy.

Duckett broke the news to the squad and explained why the search is starting now.

“We have had discussions among the club’s management and feel that it is crucial we try to get a new man on board as soon as possible so that he can take control of recruitment for next season and take charge of preparations for the 2013-14 season,” said Duckett.

“It is absolutely crucial that the search starts now because the new director of rugby will need to talk with the current players about his plans as well as leading the search for new ones.

“It is a big part of the job and I simply do not have the time to do that. I also feel it would be wrong for me to start making decisions about players for next season when I am not going to be at the club. I will be moving to somewhere nearer to Derby so I will not be involved.”

He added: “I said when I took over from Tom Rock in January that the role had to be an interim one and now the club needs to find somebody who can do the job the way it needs to be done.”

Duckett, who saw his side lose 27-0 at home to Darlington Mowden Park last Saturday, hopes to have prop Toby Williams and flanker Dan Temm back at Caldy. Both are key members of the pack.