WORCESTER Warriors head coach Carl Hogg refused to be drawn into questions over his future beyond this season.

The former Scotland international confirmed he was under contract until the end of the 2017/18 Aviva Premiership campaign.

However, he declined to comment further as he prepares to lead Worcester into their European Challenge Cup opener against Brive on Saturday (3pm).

“I am under contract until the end of the season and my focus is about winning the game on the weekend and the weekend after that,” he said.

Warriors are looking for a new director of rugby after it was announced Gary Gold would leave in the summer to become USA’s head coach.

The club, who have been put up for sale by owners Sixways Holdings Limited, also suffered a further set-back with the news head of athletic performance Paddy Anson will be leaving this week to take up a role with the English Institute of Sport.

With Gold back home in South Africa, Hogg will take charge of Warriors during the European games while backs coach Sam Vesty will head up the Anglo-Welsh Cup programme.

But when asked whether he was interested in replacing Gold in the hot seat, Hogg replied: “I came (to the press conference) to talk about European games at the weekend and not necessarily speculate about the future.”

Hogg arrived at Warriors in May 2013, linking up with ex-director of rugby Dean Ryan who he had worked with at Gloucester.

After Ryan’s departure in June 2016, Hogg was given the joint responsibility of Worcester’s rugby department with former high performance director Nick Johnston.

The 48-year-old was then handed sole leadership in November, but with Warriors hovering just above the relegation zone Gold was parachuted in by the club in January.

With Gold at the helm Worcester avoided the drop, but the South African has now agreed to a deal with USA.

Hogg said: “Gary has got an opportunity that he wants to take to be an international head coach going towards the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

“That’s an opportunity he thought was beneficial for himself, but also for his domestic situation.

“I think he has had a huge impact at that club, clearly in the tail end of last season where we got some very positive results.

“I have got a very good working relationship with Gary and a good personal relationship with him as well, but that’s part of professional sport.

“It’s a pretty fluid environment and has had a great contribution to Worcester Warriors and I am sure he has got a huge amount to contribute towards the end of the season.”