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The Welsh Rugby Union want former England coach Sir Clive Woodward to fill the newly created position of director of elite performance.

Woodward was beaten to a similar role with the Rugby Football Union by Rob Andrew earlier this year.

The 2003 World Cup-winning coach has since been employed as the British Olympic Association's performance director.

But WRU chief executive Roger Lewis told the Guardian: "We will be conducting a global search to make sure we make the right appointment.

"We want someone who has experience of working at the elite level of sport, Sir Clive has many of the skills we are looking for and he is filling the same role for the British Olympic Association."

"We are not following England in creating an elite post. We are about doing things the Welsh way. We will be conducting a global search to make sure we make the right appointment," he added.

"We have had to take a long, hard look at our organisation and find the best way forward," added Lewis.

"Steve (Lewis) and (Millennium Stadium boss) Paul Sergeant both played important roles in changing the face of the WRU, but the coming year is going to be challenging financially and we need to act now to secure our future."

Sergeant will not be replaced as a chief executive, with Gerry Toms becoming the manager of the Millennium Stadium, while Lewis's position is also likely to become redundant.

"It was my decision to go," said Sergeant. "I have been here three-and-a-half years and we have moved on. When I joined, the stadium was a white elephant, but now it is one of the world's leading sports venues."