WIGAN chairman Maurice Lindsay has played down suggestions that Great Britain winger Brian Carney could return to the JJB Stadium.

The 30-year-old Irishman left the Warriors at the end of 2005 to play in Australia and, after a season with Newcastle Knights, linked up with newly-formed Gold Coast Titans for this year.

However, he quit the Queensland club without playing a match and returned to England, citing personal reasons.

The Titans said yesterday they would be prepared to release him from his contract for a "modest compensation" and that five clubs, including at least one from rugby union, were interested in his services.

Lindsay admitted that Carney would be a perfect replacement for youngster Chris Ashton if he decides to take up an offer to switch codes but insisted that no approach had been made.

"We have spent our salary-cap money," he said.

"I am sure he will make a return to rugby of some form and, if we lose Chris Ashton, Brian would be an ideal replacement.

"He's a friend of ours but we have not been in negotiations."

Warrington, Bradford and Harlequins are other potential suitors while the Cork-born player has been linked with a cross-code move to Heineken Cup champions Munster, with whom former Wigan team-mate Gary Connolly had a brief spell last year. Tweet