THE man taking over the Wales hottest vacated by Warren Gatland after 14 straight losses is a former Forest club stalwart.

Gloucester-born Cardiff Blues head coach Matt Sherratt spent four seasons at Cinderford RFC in the 1990s and has accepted the tough task of taking a struggling Wales through the last three games of the Six Nations as caretaker coach.

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: “Matt Sherratt takes over at a pivotal time. It is a credit to him that he has not hesitated to answer Wales’s call and is also testament to the strong relationship that now exists throughout the Welsh professional game that Cardiff Rugby are fully supportive of the move.

“Matt will return to Cardiff Rugby after the Six Nations in order to concentrate his efforts on what is already a promising campaign for our capital club.

“Our intention is to have a permanent appointment in place before this summer’s two-Test tour to Japan, with all options open.”

Matt told the WRU podcast: “I’ve been in sport long enough to know that it’s pretty bumpy.

“You’re never going to be offered an opportunity when things are going well.

“It’s not something I expected to happen, but to have the opportunity to be head coach of a fantastic rugby nation, a group of players I know pretty well, a staff I know pretty well, is something I could never turn down.”

He said he would be working with the players on mindset ahead of Wales’s next Six Nations game against champions Ireland in Cardiff on February 22.

“The first thing is to start with mindset. It’s going to be difficult, I’ve coached international rugby before.

“It’s going to be difficult to change a huge amount technically and tactically in what will probably be four sessions before we play Ireland, but I think we can get a mindset shift and real excitement to play international rugby for Wales.”