GLENN Delaney passes the Trent Bridge cricket ground most days of the week.

His mind is probably on rugby-related matters as he passes between Meadow Lane and the Lady Bay training ground. But he can't help casting an envious glance through the gates at the world famous pitches.

Nottingham's director of rugby has had his own share of the spotlight as a player, especially when he helped London Irish win the Powergen Cup in 2002 and then as a coach when he looked after the renowned Barbarians squad in 2009.

But when he was a youngster, his heart was torn between the oval ball and the cricket ball.

The bigger ball eventually won the day, but he still yearns for an opportunity to propel the small ball at an opposing batsman and stumps.

"I love and admire fast bowlers," said Delaney. "I enjoy watching Stuart Broad especially, the way he charges in and bowls at a rapid pace.

" If I could be a fast bowler I would be loving life."

Delaney is recognised as one the Championship's most promising coaches and it no surprise that other clubs, some from the Premiership have been sniffing around.

He leaves no stone unturned as he plots the Green and Whites' route towards rugby's top table.

His choice of dinner partners might surprise a few but he believes he could learn from them.

"I would love to meet Bill Clinton, the former president of the United States," said Delaney. "I read his book, My Life, and I thought it was fascinating.

"He has had a very interesting life and career. Some of the trouble he got himself into, I think he would be a very interesting character.

"Dick Best would be another. He was my old coach at London Irish. He is one of the most entertaining characters you will ever meet in your life and just a thoroughly good bloke.

"He was very good to me, a very hard man to work with but you could have some fun with him.

"Margaret Thatcher would be interesting too. I would love to know what made her tick. I'm going to see the film.

"Butros-Ghali was brilliant. He was the former head of the United Nations and I think they are all people who I could learn something from.

Delaney was disappointed yesterday's game against Leeds Carnegie was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Nottingham's game against Doncaster Knights last month was also called off because of a frozen pitch.

"I'd rather we played," he said. "But in the context of things they are only setbacks and we will catch up before the end of this month.

"I've known bigger disappointments, none more so than when we lost to Leeds in the semi-final of the cup a few years ago.

"I couldn't talk after that. It wrong and it was unfair on the boys who had put in such an effort.

"If you look at things objectively, it was just the wrong outcome on that game but it was all out of our control.

"We were a hair's breadth away from taking those guys to Twickenham.

"I thought they deserved that."

Despite the setbacks, he has never given a thought to giving up.

"I would never do that," he said. "I don't go to work, I go to the rugby club. I'm very lucky, I don't go to work."

Delaney is not someone for looking back and has no regrets. "I've never had regrets about anything.

"I made a decision when I was 19 to go and play in Japan, which some people thought was strange. But it was a fantastic experience and it has served me well.

"The decision to come here and play has worked out well too. There is nothing in my professional working life I would say I would change.

"You can't live on hindsight. If you get too reflective you can stopping making decisions looking forward.

"I don't look back in anger, there is no point."

Now all his efforts are being poured into getting Nottingham into the Premiership. " I want to win promotion with this club," he said.

"This club needs to be in the Premiership and we want to be there. That's why I'm here. I want to be part of this club going to the Premiership, that what drives me on, that what drives us all on.

"We believe we have something to offer the Premiership and we believe when we get there we will be sustainable.

"That motivator will always been there as long as I'm coach of this team."