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Eng manager: Decision soon
08/04/2008 19:58 - (SA)
Julian Guyer
London - England hope to make a decision on who will be their new team manager next week according to Francis Baron, chief executive of the Rugby Football Union.
The World Cup finalists have been looking for someone to fill this new post following a review of the Six Nations, where they finished second behind Wales, with Rob Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, leading the search.
"I do hope to be able to take proposals to the (RFU) management board next week," Baron told reporters at Twickenham here on Tuesday.
Former England captain Martin Johnson has been repeatedly linked with the position even though the 2003 World Cup-winner has no coaching experience and this has led to speculation about the future of Brian Ashton, the current England coach.
Ashton has made it clear that while he would welcome a manager to lift the administrative burden he would not want his authority in purely rugby matters reduced in any way.
However, Baron refused to be drawn on what sort of manager England were looking to appoint, saying only: "The proposal that will go to the management board will set out very clearly what the job description is in detail."
Andrew, who had been due at Twickenham on Tuesday, was not present as he was having a "very important meeting on the team manager position", Baron said.
Wrong to drip-feed information
Baron refused to divulge the name of any candidate, saying: "I strongly believe it would be wrong of us to drip-feed information out.
"But I want this process concluded in the near future and I believe it will be concluded in the near future."
Ashton, appointed before last year's Six Nations after the unsuccessful reign of Andy Robinson, surprisingly led England to the World Cup final where the then-reigning champions lost to South Africa in Paris in October.
Andrew's review of the World Cup concluded Ashton should stay in his post for the Six Nations where England's runners-up spot was their best-placing since they completed a Grand Slam five years ago.
However, concerns expressed in France that England's results were being achieved in spite of, rather than because of Ashton refused to go away.
Bring in his own men
Baron, however, stressed on Tuesday he wanted Ashton and the existing coaching staff to work with whoever was appointed to the team manager's position.
But only last weekend Johnson was urged by Clive Woodward, England's World-Cup winning coach, to make bringing in his own men a condition of taking the job.
Baron countered by saying: "I believe in evolution not revolution.
"Brian has a contract with the RFU for the position of head coach and that is the position as we sit here today.
"If Rob comes to the board next week and says 'I want Fred Smith' and 'Fred' wants to get rid of everybody, I think that would colour the board's view about whether 'Fred' was the right bloke."
England already have forwards coach John Wells and defence coach Mike Ford working under Ashton. Baron said he hoped they would all work under the new manager but didn't discount the possibility of resignations.
- SAPA
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