Andrew turns hunt for new boss into total farce

Ashton was looking forward to taking a young squad to New Zealand for two Tests in June and then enjoying the extra time with his squad that a new deal with the Guinness Premiership clubs will deliver in July. But those plans could turn to dust if Andrew convinces Johnson to become team manager. There is a growing belief in English rugby that Ashton is being deliberately isolated by Twickenham chiefs, led by Andrew, as they attempt to bring in a new team manager and backs coach, with Shaun Edwards, Austin Healey and Mike Catt in the running for the latter post.

It appears the RFU are taking the view that if Johnson does not come on board - he will not touch the job unless every area of control is satisfactorily agreed - then England will stick with Ashton's plan. That involves appointing former England captain Phil de Glanville, who is not demanding the kind of hands-on role that interests Johnson.

If Johnson does get those assurances then Ashton will be dead in the water unless he agrees to discard all the limitations in authority he thought were in place for the team manager's role.

It is understood that Ashton would not agree to that kind of fundamental compromise and, with close friends of the head coach admitting he is unhappy with the way the matter is being handled, there will be a natural hardening of opinion.

Ashton can rightly ask what exactly he has done to deserve this treatment, having been given the go-ahead to continue coaching the England team every time Andrew has held a review of his performance.

One leading Premiership club official said: "This really is a shocking situation that Rob Andrew has allowed to be created. It didn't need to be handled this way. The whole process of finding a team manager and backs coach has turned into a joke at a time when we have an unprecedented group of young England players."

Andrew has until a meeting of Club England - the committee that oversees the playing side of the game - to come up with his final recommendations. They will then be put before the management board early next month.