Mike Ford will start work for French giants Toulon on Monday, four months after the ex-England defence coach was dismissed by Bath following a disappointing season which saw them finish ninth in the Aviva Premiership.

The 50-year-old is understood to have met Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal and head coach Diego Dominguez last Wednesday, when he reportedly made a strong, positive impression on Boudjellal, who has been critical of team management after a mixed start to the Top 14 season.

The upshot of the talks is that Ford will take up a leading first-team role with responsibility for attack, defence and the team’s overall game-plan.

Ex-England and Bath coach Mike Ford will start work for French giants Toulon on Monday

Ford met with Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal last week to discuss the move

His recruitment by the three-time European champions marks a swift revival and recovery after his abrupt exit from Bath.

The West Country side had swept into the Premiership Final in 2015 – playing a daring brand of rugby which won widespread acclaim – but they endured a sharp decline last season.

Signing Sam Burgess from rugby league was initially regarded as a stunning coup for Ford and the club, but it all turned sour after the World Cup as the disillusioned player was released from his contract early, to return to Australia.

Bath made a slow start to the campaign and simply couldn’t find a way out of their slump.

Leigh Halfpenny brings Dan Carter to the floor during Toulon's 41-30 defeat by Racing 92

Ford’s departure at the end of the season was taken hard by his son, George, the club’s England fly-half, who had been short of his best form following a difficult World Cup.

That in turn led to speculation about the playmaker’s future at The Rec, with Leicester understood to have prepared a £200,000 transfer fee to lure him back to the East Midlands before the end of his current deal.

However, just as Mike Ford is now returning to front-line coaching in a coveted role, George has been on song as Bath have started the new league campaign with three consecutive wins.

New director of rugby Todd Blackadder has likened him to the legendary Dan Carter and club officials are increasingly bullish about their prospects of retaining his services.