Vern Cotter bids to join Scotland earlier than planned

Vern Cotter has offered to resign his post at Clermont Auvergne in order to join Scotland as head coach earlier than planned.

The Scottish Rugby Union announced this week that Cotter was to take over team affairs in June 2014 when his contract with the Top 14 side expires.

The 51-year-old New Zealander said he was excited by the potential of the Scotland job.

And he shares in the ambition of the SRU to win the World Cup in 2015.

Cotter, who took charge of Clermont in 2006, had been quoted on his club website saying that he aimed to see out the remainder of his contract with the aim of winning the Heineken Cup next season.

And Scott Johnson, who led Scotland to third in the 2013 Six Nations, was expected to continue as interim coach before moving to a director of rugby role when Cotter arrived.

More to follow.