Quins skipper Will Skinner has revealed he will play little part in the process to appoint director of rugby Dean Richards’ successor at the Stoop.

Richards’ replacement will be unveiled before Christmas with a three-man selection panel expected to present their recommendations to the club’s board of directors in the next couple of weeks.

Chief exec Mark Evans refused to confirm if Harlequins assistant coach Tony Diprose was on his shortlist to succeed the disgraced former England number eight.

Reports the former Quins star and academy manager was in the running circulated last week, but at a press conference last Thursday to promote the Big Game 2 on December 27, Evans declined to comment on the speculation.

Skinner owes a lot to Richards, who revived his career by bringing him to west London having made an early impression on the former Leicester Tigers chief at Welford Road.

But the England Saxons star, who reckons the hangover since the director’s departure has now dispersed, is comfortable with the fact he will have little say over the identity of his new boss.

“I have spoken with the people working on this, but I haven’t been involved in deciding who it will be,” he said.

“I’ve voiced my opinions and my thoughts on the matter, and hope they have been taken on board, which I’m sure they have.”