Northampton Saints Director of rugby Jim Mallinder has ruled himself out of the running for the England coaching job by not applying.

Earlier it was revealed that Wayne Smith has also not applied leaving Stuart Lancaster as the only known applicant.

Mallinder was suggested as a potential replacement for Martin Johnson before Stuart Lancaster stepped in on a temporary basis for the Six Nations.

The Northampton Director of Rugby has coached Saints out of the Championship to a Heineken Cup final over the last five years.

"No, I've not applied," Mallinder told BBC Look East.

"It's probably the best job in the world coaching wise. What a great opportunity. But it's got to be the right thing at the right time."

While Mallinder has enjoyed some success with Northampton they have yet to win any serious rugby trophies and Mallinder has his sights set on silverware for the Saints.

"At the moment I'm concerned with getting Northampton to win something.

"I spoke to (Rugby Football Union director of operations) Rob Andrew a month or so ago."

"As I have done previously, I expressed that one day I think it's a tremendous job to do."

Former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett remains a leading contender to take up the job permanently, having previously turned down an approach from the RFU for family reasons.

"You can never rule yourself out of a job like this," said Mallett in November.

"The family situation might have changed. I'd never count it out because it's one of the top five coaching jobs in the world."

England have won their first two matches under Lancaster, winning away to both Scotland (13-6) and Italy (19-15).

But they managed just one try in each of those games, both charge-down scores by Charlie Hodgson, against two of the weakest sides in the tournament.

England's next Six Nations match is against unbeaten table-toppers and World Cup semi-finalists Wales at Twickenham on February 25.