Scotland continue to assert that new Ulster head coach Dan McFarland will not join the province until January.

McFarland signed a three-year deal with Ulster to take over at Kingspan Stadium, however the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) are refusing to release him before his contract expires.

The Englishman is out of contract at the start of 2019, but Ulster were confident they could work out a compensation package with the SRU.

However, so far the national side have proved stubborn, and their latest tweet seems to suggest that there has been no movement on their attempts to thrash out a deal.

The SRU announced that former Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson has joined as assistant coach to replace McFarland, but in the same tweet they have again insisted this won't facilitate McFarland being released early.

CONFIRMED | Scottish Rugby is pleased to confirm Danny Wilson will join the Scotland national team as Assistant Coach (forwards) this August. Wilson will replace Dan McFarland, who is set to join PRO14 side Ulster in January.



â¡ï¸ https://t.co/sy3vy4TKMQ pic.twitter.com/uDQJTsdrp9 — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 18, 2018

This looks to be the latest blow for Ulster, who at this stage are heading into the new season without a head coach or a CEO after the departure of Shane Logan earlier this month.

Ulster's new season gets underway with a pre-season friendly against Gloucester at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, August 18 - two months' time.

Belfast Telegraph