All Blacks coach Wayne Smith has told the New Zealand Rugby Union he does not want to be automatically reappointed to the job, and the union have confirmed they will readvertise the position.

Smith, appointed with co-coach Tony Gilbert two seasons ago, has come in for criticism after the All Blacks finished this year's Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup campaign empty-handed.

In a statement today, Smith said he wanted the All Blacks to have the best coach available, and indicated he would be reapplying for the position.

"I want to continue coaching the All Blacks but I will always put the best interests of the All Blacks ahead of my own desires, and if that means someone else taking over as coach then so be it," he said.

NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw said the All Black coaching job would be readvertised following a recommendation from a review panel, comprising former All Blacks and NZRFU officials.

The NZRFU hopes to have named their coach by the end of October.

Smith's current assistant Tony Gilbert is keeping his head down but may be a contender for the top job.

Former coach Laurie Mains has claimed that while there are highly promising coaches coming through the provincial system, they are not yet ready to take full control of a World Cup campaign.

Gilbert has declined to say whether he would stand or not. "I'm saying nothing, really. I think that's probably best."

Asked if he was disappointed by the turn of events, he replied: "I'll just repeat to you what I said on my return from Australia." That was: "I want to do what's best for the team, but I'm pretty keen to carry on. I've never been one to half-finish anything, but it's the team that comes first."

The NZRFU is keen for applicants to think beyond the current structure in a move that seems to indicate a change of team structure - head coach, and permanent specialist back and forward coaches.

As specialist assistants, people like Mark Shaw (forwards) and John Boe (backs) appeal - they worked as a winning pair when New Zealand won the world under-19 title in 1999, and the selection panel thought enough of Boe two years ago to give him an interview alongside Smith and Gilbert.

The alternatives are few, and most leading contenders are keeping a low profile. The Chiefs' John Mitchell is saying nothing, the Blues' Peter Sloane hints he has his mind strongly on that new job, and Buck Shelford and Robbie Deans have not yet indicated their stances.

The All Blacks, despite the confusion, are still under Smith and Gilbert's leadership through to and including the end-of-year tour, and they and Peter Thorburn will do the selecting for that tour. NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw confirmed that yesterday.

A new appointee is more likely to travel on that tour and stay in the background - a la the Eddie Jones-Rod Macqueen changeover in Australia this year.

Smith and Gilbert as a pair received support from Mains and from Hurricanes coach Graham Mourie over the weekend, but Smith's apparent dithering and lack of firm intent opens the way for a change.