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Ashton to know his fate
16/04/2008 07:38 - (SA)
London - Brian Ashton, the coach of the England rugby team, is set to discover what his exact future role will be when a specially-convened management board meeting of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) takes place at Twickenham on Wednesday.
It is widely anticipated that the meeting will see Rob Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, propose Martin Johnson, England's World Cup-winning captain from 2003, as the new national team manager.
Ashton, who took over from Andy Robinson ahead of last year's Six Nations, has long asked for a manager to be appointed to help ease the burden of administration that comes with the England coach's job.
But the 61-year-old has always made it clear he wanted to retain control of rugby matters.
What Johnson, and indeed the RFU, want in terms of a manager has yet to be spelt out and it could well be that Wednesday's gathering is merely the prelude to more meetings.
However, it seems inconceivable that Johnson would take on such a post without some say in selection and other rugby issues.
Specialist
One point on which the RFU have been clear is their desire for all the existing coaching team, including Ashton, to carry on working with whoever becomes the England manager.
But that would appear to be a recipe for yet more confusion following reports of a falling out between Ashton and forwards coach John Wells and defence specialist Mike Ford - both of whom were already on board when Ashton took over - during last year's World Cup.
Despite the wrangles, England still managed to defy expectations and reach the World Cup final, where they lost to South Africa.
Last month, again under Ashton, England finished runners-up to Wales in the Six Nations - their best placing since they last won the Grand Slam in 2003.
But their recent performances have been worryingly inconsistent, prompting RFU management board chairperson Martyn Thomas to say last week that there are "no prizes for coming second."
An issue on which Ashton's backers and critics outside the RFU are agreed on is that the man himself has been badly treated.
Even Francis Baron, chief executive of the RFU, said last week he'd rather a decision on a new management structure had been taken after the World Cup.
England tour
Ashton will be entitled to ask what has changed so much since then that he should now be going through another review process.
Meanwhile the problem of who leads England on their tour of New Zealand in June, where they play two Tests against the All Blacks, remains.
Former Leicester lock Johnson is not expected to make the trip because his wife, Kay, is due to give birth to the couple's second child around that time.
It has been suggested that Ashton could still be in charge in New Zealand.
But many critics feel Ashton, if in effect Johnson were appointed over him, would have every reason for leaving the RFU in the lurch.
"I find it amazing that in this day and age of human resources they have the audacity to treat someone in this fashion," said ex-England coach Dick Best.
Consulted
"Brian has a very good track record and he is probably still the best attacking coach in the country.
"I don't think he has been consulted the whole way through the process. It has been incredibly badly handled but that is in keeping with the way the RFU handle their business."
Despite his anger over Ashton's treatment, former Harlequins boss Best said Johnson, renowned for his tactical nous, could prove a valuable addition to England's backroom staff even though he hasn't coached at senior level since retiring as a player in 2005.
"Martin is an exceptional guy. Managing rugby players is something he has done through his captaincy career, on and off the field.
"He has been Lions captain twice, he has been England captain and won the World Cup. He has a lot of skills he can bring to the job and I think he can do a very good job for England."
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Rugby
