Kent's director of cricket Graham Ford has moved to distance himself from the job as coach to the New Zealand Test side.

The former South African Test coach has enjoyed a successful five-year stint in Canterbury and is now being linked with the Kiwi vacancy that becomes available next spring when John Bracewell stands down to join Gloucestershire.

Several New Zealand newspapers are putting Ford in the frame for the post which has attracted applications from New South Wales coach Matthew Mott and former Warwickshire opening bat Andy Moles, who is now coaching in South Africa.

Mott, who spent his last close-season at Kent's St Lawrence ground as part of the county's coaching exchange scheme with NSW, is known to be keen on the role but Ford seems much cooler on the idea.

When broached on the subject last week, Ford confirmed he had been contacted by officials from the NZ Cricket Board, but said he had not officially applied for the position or been told of an interview date.

In an exclusive interview with KM Group cricket writer Mark Pennell, Ford said: “Justin Vaughan the CEO of the New Zealand Cricket Board was over here on their tour and he contacted me earlier in the summer.

“He asked if I’d be interested in the position and to be coaching again on the international stage would be exciting. I expressed some interest at that point, but don’t know any details and have had no further discussion or contact.

“I thought they had their man to be honest and whether something is in the pipeline I’m not sure. It’s something I might explore, but it would be a massive step in my life and it’s unlikely that it’s something that I’d be charging off to do.

“I’m very happy with the set up here at Kent. I’m working with a fantastic cricket management team and captain, those relationships have developed well and are going nicely.

“Certainly I have no firm feelings at this point of wanting to head off in any other direction.”

Only 14 months ago Ford turned down the opportunity to replace Greg Chappell as Test coach to India so, little wonder then that this latest offer to coach an under-performing Kiwi side in transition is unlikely to tempt the 47-year-old.