Ashton row looms as RFU turn to Johnson

The 2003 World Cup-winning captain will meet with Rugby Football Union elite director Rob Andrew at Twickenham in the next two days.

Andrew is currently undertaking a review of England's Six Nations performance that he will present to the RFU management board next Wednesday.

He spoke to Ashton yesterday as part of the process and insiders at Twickenham insisted today that there was 'no agenda' behind the meeting with Johnson, which has been instigated by Andrew.

The elite director wants to see a team manager and a backs' coach added to the current structure that comprises of Ashton, forwards' coach John Wells and Mike Ford, in charge of defence.

Standard Sport can reveal that Ashton has already spoken to former England and Bath centre Phil de Glanville about the possibility of accepting a role within the set-up.

The coach, who led England to the World Cup Final last year and into second place in the Six Nations, has already been assured that he will have the final say over a team manager and that the new man will not have an input in the playing side of the squad. That restriction would be difficult for 38-year-old Johnson to accept given his strong views on the team and rugby reputation.

He has been heavily critical of the current set-up at the RFU and would have many reservations about working within the existing structure.

Patently, if Andrew felt Johnson was the right man, it would have serious implications for Ashton, who would be less than impressed at attempts to undermine him. It is understood De Glanville has held informal talks with Ashton and remains the favourite to be appointed, should the England coach retain his position.

Andrew has already stated that he wants Ashton to remain in charge of this summer's two-Test series in New Zealand and the meeting between the pair is said to have "gone well".

Thus it would appear to be extremely odd should Andrew decide to bring in a man in that Ashton does not want.

England's new hero Danny Cipriani today welcomed the news of the possible appointment of Johnson but insisted his involvement must be on the terms of Ashton, who retains the support of the players.

The 20-year-old fly-half said: "I have met Martin Johnson once, very briefly. Everyone talks about him being a great leader and he was a great leader.

"If it's his choice to be in a management role then England could possibly benefit from it.

"Having said that, if you look at what Brian Ashton and Mike Ford have done for England, they have been very positive.

"They have got them to a World Cup Final and second in the Six Nations. Yes, there were some poor performances but you can't just pin it onto the coaches. The players have to take control of that.

"I just thought on Saturday [in the win over Ireland] everything went smoothly because the coaching team put their marker down and everyone backed it 100 per cent.

"If Martin Johnson wants to join that's not my decision.

"Brian Ashton has done well for England and has the support of the players."