Wales head coach Warren Gatland is a possible contender for the vacant director of rugby post at Northampton, according to club president Keith Barwell.
Northampton overlooked New Zealander Gatland to instead appoint Jim Mallinder in 2007.
Saints sacked Mallinder last week after 10 years in charge, with the side languishing in 10th position in the Aviva Premiership after winning just four league games and propping up their European Champions Cup pool.
Although he will not have the final say on the matter, Barwell has revealed that Gatland is likely to be one of the names considered for the role at Franklin's Gardens.
"When we recruited Jim, Warren Gatland was one of those shortlisted," he told the Daily Mirror.
"We decided not to ring him then. Well, I thought we'd give him a second chance.
"I won't be choosing the coach, we've got a committee doing that but I want people to understand we're starting from the top not the bottom, so yes, we're interested in Warren."
Gatland, who led the British and Irish Lions to a series draw in New Zealand over the summer, is under contract with the Welsh Rugby Union until 2019 and, despite Barwell's assertion that he is the running for the Saints role, he may choose to see out his current deal.