Bristol Bears head coach Pat Lam says he is flattered by links to the vacant Wales job but insists he is focused on the Gallagher Premiership club. The former Connacht boss has been installed as the favourite to replace Warren Gatland by some bookmakers, as the Welsh Rugby Union continue to search for a new head coach and director of rugby following the end of the Six Nations. Lam has previously stated that he would love to coach Wales, saying in 2020 that he believed Wales had the talent to win a World Cup. However, as he continues to be linked to succeeding Gatland, Lam has played down links to the Wales job as he remains focused on winning the title with the Bears, who currently sit second in the league. “It’s flattering, but for me there is a big job here this year," he told BristolLive. "When I look back on my time here with all the ups and downs and everything that’s gone on, I’m really excited about what we’ve got going on. "There are still a lot of things we need to do. We certainly need to win the title. Everyone is raring to go. “The thing for me is it is just about the Bears. I want to win this Premiership. I am fully focused on this." Lam has previously coached at international level, assisting Sir Ian McGeechan with Scotland in 2003 before also coaching with the Pacific Islanders and Samoa. “I’ve been coaching for a long time now," he added. "I did international with Scotland, Samoa and the Pacific Islanders. "For me, it’s about the right job. I had no plan to be in Connacht or Bristol. I’ve always just focused on the role I’m doing. "Although I love the game and I love coaching, for me the big challenge is change as well. I look at Connacht now and how successful they are. The success they’ve had is about getting the right structures in place. "It’s not just about the rugby. You can’t get that success without the right structures and people in place. “I think we’re in a great place here. I don’t want us to win one title. I want us to be a Premiership team that is consistently competing for the titles.” While Wayne Pivac was in charge, Lam had been fairly outspoken about how attractive the Wales job was. However, that viewpoint may have changed after Wales lost 17 Test matches in a row. Speaking to the Scrum V podcast in 2020, Lam said: "I'm amazed with the ability of Welsh rugby players. There's lots of young players coming through with quality skills. "I'm not advertising or trying to get a job but I would love to coach the Welsh rugby team. "I've honest respect for what Warren Gatland did and believed in. I honestly believe Wales can win a World Cup, if they play the right game. That's why there's a lot of hope with Wayne Pivac and the style he wants to do. "He's got to make sure he's got the style that can send Wales to another level, given the right time. It's the style they can play. With certain guys it's more difficult and more work, but they can take their game to another level I believe. "I always say you have to have a game to beat anybody in the world, but you need the players to play, and have the staff to get the players to play it, and grow their skills. "When you look at New Zealand they start from a better place with their natural ability and that's the same way I think about Wales. If you get the right game you've got to be thinking about being number one in the world. "Wales should have that genuine goal. There's no reason whatsoever and that starts with mindset and belief. You've got to start talking that way, you've got to start training and behaving that way and that increases the chances. "Eddie Jones has been trying to do that with England and he's succeeded in taking it to another level."