Clive Martin has announced that he will leave his role as chief scout with Aviva Premiership side Northampton Saints.

The veteran has worked with a number of the game's biggest names, including former England internationals Matt Dawson and Steve Thompson.

"Skill development is one thing, but players only get better by actually playing games and this is what Dusty Hare and the rest of the coaches are getting back to," he told the club's official website. "It's better now than at any time in the past 10 years. I'm all in favour of how the Academy is playing more fixtures and how the relationships are being built up.

"I'm going to miss it, and one of the regrets about moving away from the area is that I'm not going to be involved as much."

Martin joined the Saints in 1991.