Former Australia coach Eddie Jones will try to save Saracens’ season during a three-month flying visit to England. Jones will act as consultant after parting company with rugby director Steve Diamond.

Former Ireland defensive coach and current Saracens head coach Mike Ford and his existing support staff will, however, continue in their current roles.

Diamond paid the price for a string of poor results, with Saracens currently lying 10th in the Guinness Premiership, a distant 11 points from play-off contention with just nine league games left.

Saracens also say a "difference of opinion" regarding the team’s future direction was behind a request from club directors for Diamond to step down.

Jones, sacked by the Wallabies in December following a miserable autumn tour that saw defeats against England, Wales and France, is due to arrive and start in his temporary, part-time role late next week.

He has already been appointed as new head coach of the Queensland Reds, and he will return to Australia after the English season ends in May.

Jones coached Australia for four years, and he was in charge when they lost the 2003 World Cup final against England in Sydney.

Saracens have not recorded a Premiership victory since November 20, suffering successive defeats against Gloucester (twice), London Irish, Leicester and Newcastle.

Their next two games are against fellow strugglers Bath and Northampton, so Jones could conceivably find himself involved in a relegation dogfight if Saracens lose those encounters.