Wednesday 6 January 2016 16:16, UK
Alex King insists he was never offered a role in England's new-look coaching set-up under Eddie Jones.
The assistant coach at Northampton says joining England's ranks was never an option, despite his Saints boss Jim Mallinder previously decrying an unofficial approach for King.
Rugby director Mallinder hit out at the Rugby Football Union for leaving Northampton "in the dark" over an unofficial approach for King in December - but now King has played down the significance of the entire incident.
"I just think there's been so much speculation about me having a conversation with Eddie that everyone's assumed something that was never going to happen," said King.
"Eddie spoke to a few people and he's made his decision to stick with his three coaches going into the Six Nations, and he'll run the attack. And that's it. There's nothing more to it."
King's assertion that Jones was never interested in bringing him into the revamped England set-up all but confirms the new head coach has now finished his recruitment.
Former Australia boss Jones is expected to take charge of England's attack himself, with Ian Peel handling scrum affairs for the Six Nations, and Paul Gustard and Steve Borthwick completing the line-up.
"Seriously, it was just a conversation on rugby," said King of his recent meeting with Jones.
"He's gone around all the clubs and spoken to a lot of coaches, and for some reason people speculated and came up with a story. Well that probably makes it less like a job offer because it was just an informal chat about rugby.
"I think if it had been anything more we would have gone down a different route, but as far as I'm concerned he's made a decision, he's going to run the attack and I move on to Leicester on Saturday, which is where all my focus is."
