91Èȱ¬

Head coach Gary Gold has insisted Bath have not entered talks with Leicester Tigers' fly-half George Ford but says he is a player they admire.

The 19-year-old, whose father Mike is assistant coach at the Rec, away from the Tigers when his contract ends in the summer.

Ford's youth deal means he cannot be approached by other clubs until March.

"If George became available he's a type of player we would have a look at," Gold told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Bristol.

"Of course we know who he is and I do rate him.

"But unfortunately he falls under the England Under-20 remit and nobody is allowed to speak to him - not us, not anybody - and it's irrelevant that his father is here."

England U20s international Ford has been with the Tigers since the age of 15 and made his first-team debut in November 2009.

Ford started 11 games for Leicester last season, and has made a total of 13 appearances this term. But he remains second-choice fly-half behind England's Toby Flood, who is contracted until 2014.

And although Gold is aware of Ford's calibre, the South African says he is not looking for a new fly-half at present.

"I have to stress that we have Tom Heathcote and Stephen Donald and they are both contracted for next year," added Gold.

"It's not really a position that I'm looking to replace."