LONDON, June 5: Former Zimbabwe captain Duncan Fletcher has become the leading contender to succeed David Lloyd as England's cricket coach, it was reported here on Saturday.

Glamorgan are prepared to release Fletcher from his contract to take the national post even though he has only recently signed a new three year-deal with the Welsh county, the Daily Express said.

Glamorgan secretary Mike Fatkin said: "We see Duncan as a top coach and a very good man manager and we are not surprised by England's interest.

"If they say they want him wc would have mixed feelings, but we would certainly do the decent thing and not stand in Duncan's way.

"I understand Duncan has said he would be interested in the job."

The England Advisory Management- Committee (EMAC), which will make the final decision. meets on Monday to trim

down the list of candidates to two or three main contenders.

England's early exit from the World Cup has given EMAC more time than they would have liked to find a successor to Lloyd before next month’s Test series against New Zealand.

On leaving the job Lloyd said he would prefer an Englishman to succeed him.

"I just think that if it isn't, then it's just somebody who is drawing a salary." he said.

Several candidates are being considered for the job. including former England Test batsman Bob Woolmer. He has been in charge of the South Africans lor five years, but quits after the World Cup.

• Fletcher never played Test cricket, but captained Zimbabwe when they made their World Cup debut in 1983 and played first class cricket in | South Africa. After coaching Western Province in South I Africa he helped Glamorgan to ; their first championship in 28 years in 1997,