Ashton’s long, slow journey to the exit

Opinion hardens among the hawks on the RFU management board. England's shocker at Murrayfield convinces them that Ashton has to go, come what may. 'We cannot go on like this,' says one. 'We have to act — whatever happens against Ireland at the weekend.'

MARCH 15

England's winning finish to the Six Nations does nothing to quell the internal clamour at Twickenham for a change. Rob Andrew is instructed to complete his review, scheduled for late April, within the next fortnight. As director of elite rugby, he is left in no doubt that to recommend the re-appointment of the coaching team en masse will not be acceptable.

MARCH 18

Ashton has a 'quick chat' with Andrew about the Six Nations. 'Normal practice,' says Andrew.

MARCH 19

Sportsmail reveals Martin Johnson is to be offered the job of England manager and that Andrew is to meet him the following day.

MARCH 20

Andrew and Johnson meet for two hours at Twickenham. Johnson insists he must have complete control to pick his coaching team and Ashton would not be part of it.

MARCH 26

RFU management board hear a report from Andrew and instructs him to recruit a team manager and an additional specialist coach. They congratulate the team on finishing second in the Six Nations but do not mention Ashton by name.

MARCH 27

Ashton is assured by his employers: 'Nothing has changed.' Speculation over his future as head coach is dismissed, according to one of Ashton's friends, as 'b******t.'

MARCH 31

Johnson, back from a family break in Devon, accepts the RFU offer 'in principle.' He will be head coach as well as team manager. Ashton is in surprisingly buoyant mood hosting a post-Six Nations reception for rugby journalists.

APRIL 2

Johnson spends the day thrashing out the detail of his job specification.

APRIL 3

He meets Andrew for the third time and contracts are drawn up.

APRIL 4

Andrew telephones Ashton to tell him that he will not be picking the manager after all.

APRIL 8

RFU offer Ashton guarantee about his job. 'It must be a nightmare for Brian with everything that's been reported,' says chief executive Francis Baron.

APRIL 9

Johnson meets Shaun Edwards and offers him the job as England attack coach — Ashton's speciality.

APRIL 10

Edwards signs a contract to stay with Wales in a part-time capacity until 2011.

APRIL 11

Ashton holds four-hour meeting with assistant coaches John Wells and Mike Ford to discuss the tour party for the June Tests in New Zealand. They plan to meet again on May 8.

APRIL 14

RFU chairman Martyn Thomas gives the 13 other members of the management board 48 hours' notice of a meeting to approve England's new coaching structure.

APRIL 15

Ashton is summoned to an afternoon meeting with Andrew, unaware that he is about to be relieved of his duties as head coach. He drives home to Bath without commenting.