Northampton Saints head coach Jim Mallinder has given a hint that they will appeal against Chris Ashton's four week ban as he feels it is "fairly harsh."

Ashton was given a four week suspension by an RFU disciplinary panel which means he will miss two Heineken Cup matches and two Aviva Premiership games and will only return next year.

The England winger was given the discipline after he pulled Alesana Tuilagi into touch by the player's dreadlocks and his actions sparked a brawl after which two players were shown red cards.

"We think that four weeks is fairly harsh," Mallinder told Sky Sports News.

"Of course we don't want these incidents to happen but it was actually an isolated incident and I don't know if that would be a red card or not in a normal game.

"It wasn't a normal game - it was a big, physical encounter between two rivals and a fantastic game of rugby."

"It was just a shame that something like this had to happen."

Northampton Saints have until Friday to appeal the ban.

Mallinder also said that he was still interested in the currently open England manager's job but said that he was in no hurry to leave Northampton Saints.

"I have got a fantastic job here. Northampton Saints is a fantastic rugby club."

"I love it here and I have got lots of support from the board and from the owner and from all the supporters who attend."

"So I am very, very happy with what I do here.

"I have said in the past that at one stage I would love to coach England and I still mean that."

"But I am 45 years of age, I have got a lot of time to go and it has to be the right opportunity for me to make that next step."