Jake White, who guided South Africa to the rugby World Cup title in 2007, is interested in the England coach's job.
But the owner of Montpellier, the French club where White is now, said he would be demanding clarifications from the South African over his intentions.
With current coach Stuart Lancaster expected to quit or be sacked after England's disastrous World Cup, White told the Daily Mail he had been approached in the past.
"If they were genuingly interested and they approached me, of course I would be interested. It's one of the biggest jobs in world sport and you would be crazy not to consider it," said White, currently head coach at French side Montpellier.
"England have everything going for them in terms of resources, players and history," said the 52-year-old South African.
"When I was with the 'Boks, I was approached to put my name in for Rob Andrew's job. Then they contacted me before appointing Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster."
Rob Andrew is professional rugby director at England's Rugby Football Union, one of the world's wealthiest, while Martin Johnson was Lancaster's predecessor as coach.
White said there is a lot of work to be done with England.
"They made the final in 2007 but it was a shambles (they were beaten twice by South Africa). In 2011 they got knocked out early (the quarter-finals) and in 2015 they go knocked out even earlier.
"For a big rugby nation to be eighth in the world isn't right."
White has only been at Montpellier since January and the Top 14 side were surprised.
Montpellier president Mohamed Altrad told AFP he did not know "exactly" what White had said.
"I have not spoken to him for a few days. I will have to speak to him first to know precisely how he answered. But he is under contract with Montpellier for two years," Altrad insisted.
Japan's Australian coach Eddie Jones has also said he would be "open" to taking over the England team humiliated by pool stage defeats against Wales and Australia.
England are reviewing their coaching lineup after becoming the first World Cup hosts to fail to reach the knockout stage.

Source: AFP