Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire in the midst of the ball tampering row, may be considered for a new role next summer as an assessor of first-class umpires in England [Images], a leading British paper reported on Wednesday.

Peter Willey, the chairman of the umpires' association, told The Times that if Hair is no longer involved in Test cricket he could be added to a list of candidates selected by the ECB.

Willey's statement comes in the backdrop of the decision to withdraw Hair from officiating in a match involving second string players of Derbyshire and Gloucestershire at Chesterfield on Wednesday to avoid further attention from the media.

Willey, who, along with Barrie Leadbeater, his predecessor, and other umpires, is solidly supportive of Hair, has given his backing to a proposal by the ECB that umpires should be assessed during county matches in the same way that referees are in football and rugby, the report said.

An assessor would also act as a form of coach, he said.

"His views would go alongside those in the captains' report."

Hair, who had hoped to umpire first class matches in England before becoming embroiled in the ball-tampering row involving the hosts and Pakistan at the Oval ten days ago, is on the ECB's reserve list.

A new position as an assessor would provide Hair with an opportunity for anonymity that he would not now be afforded even in a second XI fixture.

It would entail focusing on the state of mind and the confidence of officials and offering advice, as a coach might do, after the close of play.

"This will provide constructive feedback and will be different to the issues the players are concerned with," Chris Kelly, the ECB's umpires and match operations manager was quoted as saying.

"It will also provide work for umpires who are not content with a life away from the game, but they will need to be prepared to go along with changes in umpiring.

"Cricketers have taken professionalism to new levels. This is to do with the expectation of the players, who like to see umpires preparing for the game in the same way they are. It increases objectivity as the captains have so many other things to worry about, and it is very difficult for

them to be objective."

His idea has been put to the ECB for discussion at its autumn meeting.

"The captains have not debated this yet but I do not foresee umpires being watched every match," Kelly said. "What this will also enable them to do is to discuss a problem in confidence with their assessors or coaches."

Other retired and distinguished umpires who are likely to be interested in the job are Dickie Bird and Ray Julian, who is keen to continue umpiring after the mandatory retirement age of 65.