Gatland is tipped to lead Lions

Gatland will be available to lead the Lions after it emerged his new four-year contract with the Welsh Rugby Union contains a timely five-month break clause.

Vickery said: "I've done two Lions tours and I think Warren would be a fantastic candidate to do it again. And I hope he does. He's a guy who I have the utmost respect for.

"He's a typical Kiwi. He's honest, sometimes brutally, but you can be honest back. He gets the guys together and gets the best out of people. I really hope he does it again because it's very, very special."

Gatland plans to appoint a junior coaching team to lead Wales on their tour to Japan that summer after the Welsh Rugby Union agreed he could take a sabbatical. The former All Blacks hooker insisted the Lions did not feature in negotiations over his four-year deal and that he just wants a chance to spend some time back in New Zealand.

But Gatland, assistant Lions coach for the South Africa tour last year, is considered to be one of the leading candidates to take charge in 2013 - and he has refused to rule out the possibility.

"For a Lions team to be successful is incredibly hard. It was a fantastic experience and an honour and a privilege to be involved with the players. To do it again? We'll just have to see," said Gatland. "Wales have agreed that for 2013, while the Lions are touring and Wales play Japan for a couple of games, I could appoint some younger coaches which would enable me to spend four or five months back in New Zealand."

The fact Gatland is technically available in the summer of 2013 opens the door for him to be considered for the Lions job, though there remain further hurdles to cross.

Tour manager Andy Irvine said earlier this week it was unlikely any of the home nations coaches would be considered unless they could secure at least partial release from the 2013 Six Nations.