FORMER Scotland fly-half Gordon Ross is preparing to link up with Worcester Warriors’ coaching team this summer.

It is not long until Ross arrives at Sixways as the club’s academy transition manager (backs) after spending this campaign as assistant coach at London Welsh, who will be relegated from the Aviva Premiership.

Ryan said: “I think the elevation of Sam Vesty into the first team coaching set-up left a space.

"Sam did a fantastic job with the group who are coming out of the academy and are sitting just below the first team. I have always said that’s a massive area for investment for us.

“Everyone knows the form of the Cavaliers and everyone knows the top end of that academy and it’s a real credit to Sam. Now we’ve got someone else who I think is in a very similar position to what Sam was.”

Ross, who scored 696 points during 103 Premiership appearances, won 25 caps for Scotland and bagged 23 points on his international debut against Tonga.

At club level, Ross represented Edinburgh, Leeds Tykes, Castres and Saracens before finishing his playing career at London Welsh.

Ross was voted man-of-the-match as Leeds beat Bath to lift the Powergen Cup in 2005.

Ryan said: “Gordon is starting out as a coach and is really keen to be a successful coach with great ideas, great intellect from his playing days.

"It is a perfect combination for him to come here and learn and pass on his knowledge to our youngsters. I am really excited for him and us and I think it’s a great relationship.”

Ryan is also excited about the continued growth and development of the club’s academy structure.

“Our 17s are very strong and we have good representation across the region and our 16s are very strong too,” he said.

“The academy is functioning but it’s just got small numbers for the first couple of years.

“When big numbers come you can start resourcing them into your squad and the quality levels lift and that’s still probably a year or so away.

"But we have some really good guys like Andrew Kitchener, Huw Taylor and Sam Smith who have been great additions and have represented the A-League to the highest level.”