I have a dream - Johnno has plan to make England top dogs again

He replaces the sacked Brian Ashton, with the RFU promising to put their vast resources at Johnson's disposal to recreate the winning culture of five years ago.

After failing to reclaim Shaun Edwards from Wales, Johnson will be given the money to assemble a specialist team second to none. RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: "Martin has the freedom and the budget to recruit additional coaching resources and make other changes to the England set-up to build a team that will consistently challenge for the major international tournaments."

Johnson's contract is worth between £250,000 and £300,000 a year and runs until December 31 2011. The RFU have guaranteed him 'full management control of the England team, including the appointment of the coaching and management team as well as the player selection process'.

The 38-year-old former captain said: "This is a great honour. I am passionate about the England team and delivering success for it."

With his wife Kay expecting their second child on the day England play New Zealand in Christchurch on June 14, Johnson will not take up full-time duties until July 1 but will be actively involved in picking the tour squad and the team against the Barbarians on June 1. He will also have to choose a new captain, with Phil Vickery ruled out for the season with torn knee ligaments.

Johnson has already chosen three of his specialist coaches, retaining John Wells, Mike Ford and Graham Rowntree. Those three plus kicking coach Jon Callard will prepare the team for the two Tests against the All Blacks, with Rob Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, acting as manager.

Ashton's exit, Edwards' decision to remain with Wales and Pat Howard's reluctance to return from Australia leaves a major vacancy at backs coach.

Mike Catt, a player-coach at London Irish, is a leading candidate along with Northampton head coach Jim Mallinder. Catt said: "Johnno has a wealth of knowledge about the game, his man-management is very good and he is a fantastic leader. I'd love to work with him."

The RFU confirmed that Ashton, 61, has been offered his old job of running the Union's national academy. Andrew said: 'He is an outstanding coach and deserves enormous credit for leading England to a second successive World Cup final and runners-up spot in the Six Nations."

Ex-England hooker Brian Moore called on Baron to resign yesterday over the RFU's treatment of Ashton. He said: "It's not good enough for a ruling body to hold itself up to public ridicule. Baron ought to go. It's an absolute disgrace."