Dean Ryan (left) recently served as Scotland forwards coach during the Six Nations along side caretaker head coach Scott Johnson © PA Photos

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Worcester Warriors have confirmed Dean Ryan as their new director of rugby following the departure of Richard Hill.

The Premiership strugglers have acted swiftly to fill the void left by Hill who parted company with the Warriors on Tuesday night in the wake of their 14th defeat of the current league campaign.

Ryan, a former England international, has previously coached Bristol and Gloucester and more recently acted as assistant to caretaker Scotland coach Scott Johnson during this year's Six Nations on a short-term deal.

The 46-year-old, who recently re-joined Bristol as a consultant, is also a familiar face through his work as an analyst with Sky Sports - a role he returned to following his brief stint with the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU).

As a result it was thought he did not want to return to a full-time rugby role but it appears that the Warriors have convinced him to return to the Premiership stage with Ryan set to take charge following the final game of the season against London Welsh on May 4. The news will surely come as a blow to the SRU after Johnson had expressed a desire for Ryan to continue in the role having had "a deep impact on the squad".

The remaining members of the current coaching team, including forwards coach Nigel Redman and fellow former England international Phil Vickery, and Worcester's rugby operations director Corin Palmer will take charge of the team for the final two Premiership matches of the season with no confirmation as yet that they will form part of Ryan's support staff.

Ryan will take charge of a Warriors squad that has already missed out on Heineken Cup qualification and is also set to be stripped of rising stars such as flanker Matt Kvesic and prop Matt Mullan who are leaving the club at the end of the season for Gloucester and London Wasps respectively.