ENGLAND wing Jon Sleightholme believes Ireland, last season's wooden spoonists, will present a difficult challenge in the Five Nations Championship now that former Bath coach Brian Ashton is on board as coaching advisor.

"It certainly gives England's game against them in Dublin a whole new angle and I wish Brian and the Ireland team well but not when they are playing us," said Sleightholme, one of the Bath backs moulded by Ashton.

The winger added: "We have always said that Bath's loss would be somebody else's gain and having him there will be fantastic for the Irish boys.

"They need someone like Brian around and, knowing him as I do, he is quite a character and will fit in well. It has come as a bit of a surprise but you can understand why Ireland have asked for his services."

Ashton, who was England backs coach in 1985, added: "The IRFU moved really fast in the wake of my resignation and the departure of Murray Kidd earlier in the week.

"I'm not sure yet what capacity I will be working in. It is a massive task, but one I am looking forward to. It is a new challenge and I have never been afraid of those. I always hoped for the opportunity to work - again at the highest level.

"I will be going to Dublin on Sunday and working with the team at their Limerick base at the start of the week before we come back to Dublin for the final preparations for the French match. I will need to get to know the Irish players and the set up.

"I am a patriotic Lancastrian and Englishman, so it will be odd to coach a team with the aim of beating England next month. But for the period of the Five Nations I am as green as any Irishman in rugby matters.

"Our sport is now professional and this sort of thing happens in other sports - notably soccer, where Terry Venables is Australia's coach and Jack Charlton was successfully in charge of Ireland for several years.

Ireland team manager, Pat Whelan, was delighted with the appointment, saying: "I'm very pleased to welcome on board a man of the calibre of Brian Ashton."