SIR CLIVE Woodward is today expected to confirm he will not take up a significant role at Saints in order to fulfil his dream of leading the British Lions to New Zealand next summer.

Having resigned as England coach last week, speculation has been rife that Woodward will take his first tentative steps into football at St Mary's.

The World Cup winning coach said last week he would not take up either a formal or informal role anywhere until after the Lions tour as it had been made clear the two would not be seen as compatible by the Lions management committee, with whom he meets today in Dublin.

But there's been a suggestion Woodward could yet be involved in compiling a dossier that will be presented to Rupert Lowe and Steve Wigley, dealing specifically with strategies on team building and psychical and psychological preparation.

Lions chief Bill Beaumont said: "This meeting's a case of clearing the air as far as I am concerned. My own view is Clive will take the squad to New Zealand.

"Clive's position is on the agenda as committee members also read papers and hear stories and need to know what's going on.

"Clive has not signed a contract with us but we shook hands with him and it was clear from his remarks last week that he remains totally dedicated to the Lions.

"I will be speaking to Clive before the meeting but he has already assured me that he will not be taking on any commitments which would interfere with his job of preparing the Lions."

Saints are not expected to comment any further on Woodward until at least tomorrow when his rugby future will be clearer.

Speaking of Woodward, Beaumont added: "People tend to forget that until 1995 rugby was an amateur game and under Clive, England developed into a professional side with a capital P.

"I've known him for the best part of 25 years and right from the start he impressed me as a deep thinker about sport in general. "He could also knock a soccer ball about with the best of them."