Former Warwickshire opener Andy Moles and ex-England fast bowler Bob Cottam, who played for Hampshire and Northants, have both expressed an interest in the post of first-team coach with Yorkshire.

Neither is among the dozen or so applications Yorkshire have already received following Martyn Moxon's sudden departure, but the pair are expected to open lines of communication with the club.

Moles, who will be 40 next month, has settled in South Africa since retiring from Warwickshire, and he is coach of Free State where he helped supervise the coaching of Yorkshire's Matthew Hoggard over the past two winters.

Ironically, he was short-listed for the job of coach with Durham and was about to fly in for an interview when he heard that Moxon had been appointed.

"I have no wish to leave Free State but would love the chance to be Yorkshire's first-team coach during the English season," said Moles. "I would be happy to do the job on a six-month contract and would be flattered if I were to get it."

Cottam, 56, is England boss Duncan Fletcher's assistant coach on this winter's tours and he leaves for Sri Lanka with the squad later this month. He played in four Test matches and went on to coach Somerset for a time. He is a freelance coach during the summer months.

Updated: 09:30 Thursday, January 18, 2001