International
Andrew to reveal his choice
ROB Andrew is set to confirm
who he wants as England's new
team manager when he fronts a
specially-convened management
board meeting at Twickenham
tomorrow morning.
It would be a significant shock
if Andrew does not propose Martin
Johnson, England's 2003
World Cup-winning captain, for
the newly-created position.
Andrew, England's director of
elite rugby, is known to have met
with Johnson to discuss the
team manager role at least once
over the last month.
The Rugby Football Union
sanctioned the appointment of a
new team manager and a new
specialist coach when Andrew
delivered his review of the Six
Nations last month.
No specific job description was
ever drawn up for the team role,
following a request for flexibility
from Andrew, and that is also
set to be outlined tomorrow.
The RFU management board
must still ratify Andrew's proposal
and there could potentially
be sticking points ahead.
There are senior figures who
are desperate for Johnson to be
brought in but there are others
who remain wary.
Johnson is known to want
complete control over the England
coaching staff but RFU
chief executive Francis Baron
warned there will be no mass
clearout.
It is important when someone
new comes in they have an
opportunity to mould the coaching
team going forward. But my
management philosophy is evolution
not revolution,'' said
Baron."
The RFU also need to tread
carefully as Brian Ashton is
under contract as head coach.
But with Johnson unlikely to
accept a purely administrative
position, Ashton could effectively
find himself demoted, having
lost his powers of selection and
his authority.
Baron insisted last week that
Ashton would not be sacked -
but he also accepted one or more
of the coaching team might find
their positions untenable in a
new regime.
9:45am Tuesday 15th April 2008
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