Kent are on the verge of appointing a high-profile interim assistant coach as Allan Donald will miss the start of the season due to visa issues.

South African pace legend Donald was named as assistant to new head coach Matt Walker in the new year but it has emerged he will not be given a visa to coach in England when pre-season begins this month as he does not meet the ECB criteria of a Level 3 coaching qualification.

KentOnline understands Kent are now set to appoint ‘a high profile assistant coach of international repute’ as soon as this week to assist Walker and help prepare the squad on the eve of the new county season, which gets underway with a home championship game against Gloucestershire on April 7.

Donald, 50, has previously mentored the fast bowlers of England, Australia and South Africa and worked with Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore and deputised for Nicky Boje as head coach at South African franchise the Knights last winter.

Kent are currently weighing-up whether to appeal the ECB ruling or try to fast-track Donald through the remainder of the qualification, which he has already been working towards, a process which could take months.