The Welsh Rugby Union want to appoint Matt Sherratt as interim head coach until the end of the Six Nations.

Warren Gatland is set to leave his job as head coach after a disastrous start to Wales' Six Nations campaign which has stretched their record run of defeats to 14.

WalesOnline understands the WRU have approached Cardiff to enquire whether they would allow Sherratt to become interim head coach until the end of the Six Nations.

READ MORE: Warren Gatland to leave Wales coaching role with immediate effect

READ MORE: Live updates as Warren Gatland to leave, Matt Sherratt approached and press conference held

However, amid a day of uncertainty, Sherratt is currently taking charge of the Blue and Blacks' training session at the Arms Park.

A hugely popular figure in the Welsh capital, Sherratt will be familiar to a number within the squad - having coached at the Ospreys as well having a stint with Wales in 2017 while Gatland was on Lions duty.

One of the men who helped mastermind Gatland's final defeat in charge of Wales, Italy defence coach Richard Hodges, worked with Sherratt at Cardiff and has previously sung his praises to WalesOnline.

"Cardiff are very lucky to have Matt Sherratt," said Hodges last year. "He's a coach who is certainly as good as any I've come across.

"He's very empathetic. He sees the game through the players' eyes. I think he's got a good on/off task button. He learnt a lot of that from Danny Wilson, who is doing well at Harlequins now."

Another potential option would be current backs coach Rob Howley who has held the job on an interim basis in the past.

It's understood Ospreys head coach Mark Jones, who has previously taken charge of Wales U20s and - like Sherratt - has been involved in the Wales coaching ticket on a short-term basis, has not been approached.

But the WRU's search for a long-term successor to Gatland is already underway with Ireland coach Simon Easterby, Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith and explosive Australian Michael Cheika in the frame. You can read more about that here.

You can follow live updates and this afternoon's scheduled Wales press conference here.