Rob Howley under consideration for Wasps return after Dai Young 'steps back'

Rob Howley has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Dai Young as Wasps boss and complete an emotional return to rugby.

Howley is a club legend having scored the last-gasp try which beat Toulouse to win Wasps the 2004 European Cup.

He is currently serving a ban for placing bets on more than 1,000 matches over four years in breach of rugby’s regulations whilst Wales attack coach.

The former scrum-half’s 18-month suspension – half of which is suspended – ends in June.

Wasps yesterday announced that Young would be “stepping back from first-team duties for an interim period”.

Backs coach Lee Blackett has been appointed interim head coach and will take charge the side for Saturday’s derby clash at local rivals Leicester.

There is no suggestion from the Coventry-based club that Blackett is doing anything more than keeping the seat warm for a full-time replacement.

Given that Wasps are ninth in the 12-team Premiership and salary cap-busting Saracens have already filled the only relegation spot from the Premiership, the club has no fear of losing their status in the remainder of the season.

Blackett has been given the chance to book Wasps a European spot and the league is so tight that a top-four finish cannot be ruled out.

But a club of Wasps’ trophy-winning pedigree expect to be challenging at the top of the league every season and, save for reaching the 2017 Premiership final, they have been mediocre at best for too long.

Young will always be remembered fondly by Wasps fans for his part in saving them from oblivion almost a decade ago.

But the drain of star players to other clubs on his watch have left fans fearing that the good times will never return.