NEWCASTLE Falcons boss Rob Andrew has revealed that any approach about the England manager's job will be met with a one-word answer - "no".

The Rugby Football Union are expected to begin their search for Sir Clive Woodward's successor on Monday after the World Cup winner tended his resignation yesterday.

Andrew was instantly installed as the favourite for the England job when news broke of Woodward's desire to resign this week.

But, despite winning 71 caps for England at fly half, the Falcons chief has insisted that he is not interested in leaving Kingston Park to take over at Twickenham.

"I keep being asked about this, but the answer has never changed," said Andrew, who is currently preparing Newcastle for Sunday's Zurich Premiership opener at newly-promoted Worcester.

"No-one knows for definite what Clive is doing, the job hasn't been offered to me, and no-one from the RFU has been in contact so, in a way, there's no point in even talking about it.

"But just to put the thing to bed once and for all, even if the job was offered the answer would be 'no'.

"I want to honour my contract and I just don't feel like I'm ready to take on the England position.

"I've spoken to my chairman, Dave Thompson, about it and made it clear to him that I intend to honour my contract here, which lasts until 2007.

"We both feel that, with what we've established here recently, we could be on the verge of something really special in the North-East, and I fully intend to stick around to be a part of it."

Woodward's resignation as head coach was accepted by the Rugby Football Union last evening, just 285 days after he masterminded one of the greatest achievements in British sporting history.

That November night in Sydney, when Woodward's England were crowned champions of the rugby world, will be his legacy.

It was the crowning moment of an eventful and memorable adventure which has lasted seven years and taken English rugby to new heights.

During Woodward's reign, England won the World Cup, three Six Nations titles and produced a distinct tilt in the balance of power between northern and southern hemisphere rugby.

His record will show 29 Tests against the Tri-Nations heavyweights Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, with 13 victories, 14 defeats and two draws.

Woodward is set for a dramatic switch of sports to football with Barclays Premiership club Southampton reportedly ready to offer him a position at St Mary's.

It has even been suggested Woodward could one day become England boss - a stunning turn of events that former England coach Graham Taylor would welcome.

"Clive has set himself a great challenge if he wants to manage England. Certain skills are transferable between top-level sports but it's also important to get the new knowledge he needs," he said.

"From what I can gather he's prepared to work at it and that's vitally important. You can't pick up everything you need to know in six months.

"But if in four or six years down the line he's got to the heart of the game and done his time at club level, then I would have no objections to him becoming England manager."

Former England scrum-half Kyran Bracken - who was a member of Woodward's squad which brought the Webb Ellis Trophy back to Twickenham - believes testing times lie ahead for England.

"One of the first things Clive said after we'd won the World Cup was that no side had successfully defended it and that was something he was determined to do. I don't know what's changed since then," he said.

"These are worrying times for England at the moment because a lot of experienced players are retiring and there is no captain. It's a real transition period.

"Expectation is so high on England these days and I wouldn't be surprised if results don't go our way for a while.

"But it could also be good for English rugby and hopefully we'll get back the winning ways we enjoyed under Clive."

Woodward, who will face the media today, said: "I have today handed in a letter to RFU Chief Executive, Francis Baron OBE informing him that I am resigning my post.

"This has been accepted.

"I informed Francis yesterday that I was happy to stay for the Investec test matches in the autumn but in discussion with him it was agreed that it would make for a smoother transition of coaching and management responsibility if I withdrew from the Head Coach position with immediate effect.

"I give my full support to Andy Robinson who has been asked by the RFU to become acting' head coach.''