The man who revived South African cricket is being tipped to breathe new life into the West Indies.

Former England all-rounder Bob Woolmer is apparently the front-runner for the job as West Indies coach, replacing Roger Harper whose three-year contract concluded at the end of the Caribbean team's World Cup campaign.

Woolmer, who is currently at the World Cup, confirmed to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that he was interviewed by West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) officials in South Africa last week.

The BBC also quoted a source as saying: "The WICB has progressed to the point of talking dollars with Woolmer, so it's a safe bet he is the man they want."

"I had been told by my good friend Dr. Rudi Webster (director of the West Indies Cricket Academy) that the job would soon be vacant and he asked whether I wanted to submit my CV, which I did," said Woolmer, explaining how he learnt about the job.

"I had a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the West Indies selection panel in Kimberley early last week. I am not sure what will come of it. It is up to them to call me now. But it goes without saying, for the meeting to last as long as it did means it was encouraging on both sides.

"The one thing I did make clear was if I was going to coach a national side again, I would expect to be able to implement the various techniques that I have developed over the years."

The 54-year-old, who spearheaded South Africa's return to prominence (1994-99) upon their readmission to international cricket, is among four persons who have been interviewed for the vacancy. The others are Australian academy coach Bennett King, former Leeward Islands and West Indies all-rounder Eldine Baptiste and former Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies batsman Gus Logie who coached Canada at the World Cup.

However, another article said Woolmer had indicated he was more interested in serving as a technical advisor than as a full-time coach.

"I was quite up front with them in terms of my physical capabilities. I've got a lot of knowledge and I want to share that. If I can help I'd be willing to hear what they say.

"I've done a lot of research on coaching and I'm quite keen to try one or two things. To do it full-time is too much for me at my age. The five years with South Africa were probably the most stressful of my life and I won't forget that," said Woolmer.

Currently the International Cricket Council's (ICC) high performance manager for associate members, Woolmer prepared the Netherlands, Kenya, Canada and Namibia for the World Cup. He termed the West Indies "a team for the future" and said coaching them would be a challenge.

"They seem like a team on the move, wanting to get back to the top," he noted. "A strong West Indies side is very important to cricket."

Outgoing coach Harper is equally optimistic about the players he leaves behind.

"I think there has never been a doubt or question about the talent in West Indies cricket and I would like to think that over the years the guys would've learnt a bit about what is required at international level.

"With the experience they have gained, I want to feel they are ready to launch themselves and perform at the sort of level, on a consistent basis, that they are capable of doing," said the former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder.

Harper, who turns 40 on Monday, decided not to re-apply for the coaching position which he assumed in 2000 just before the home series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.