Johnson's England role uncertain as he seeks total control

Johnson has until tomorrow morning to give Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's elite rugby director, his final verdict on the job offer which is far from clear-cut.

The former Lions and England captain is understood to be less enthusiastic about helping the national cause following last week's discussions with Andrew.

Suggestions that Johnson would come in with the power to hire and fire the coaches appear overstated. Johnson arrived at his meeting with Andrew with an open mind. However, his change of heart was based on the belief the RFU were ready to hand control of the national team over to a manager who had real power.

However, Andrew, who is returning from a holiday to attend tomorrow's RFU management board meeting, had already given Brian Ashton a firm undertaking that the final say on who would become team manager rested with the head coach.

Ashton would walk if he is given a manager he could not work with, while Johnson is nobody's nodding dog. Ashton has a contract that runs until 2011, with opt-out clauses on both sides, but that would still involve a substantial pay-off if he was forced out.

The situation is a mess and stems from the aftermath of England's win over Ireland, which led to members of the management board airing their belief that a new man was needed to take the team to the 2011 World Cup.

It now appears the Johnson "chat" was aimed at appeasing the hard-liners, with Andrew only too aware that having told Ashton he would be continuing as head coach, any fundamental change could leave the team without a head coach in the build-up to the summer tour to New Zealand.

Meanwhile, London Wasps have to win at Leicester on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a Premiership play-off spot.

Wasps lost their EDF Energy Cup semi-final to the same opponents 34-24 in Cardiff and Ian McGeechan, their director of rugby, said: "We have only lost four games since the World Cup but they have been key games.

"We know where our focus is. We want a play-off place. I don't think we'll be as below par as that again."

Saracens were hammered 30-3 by Ospreys in the other semi and have to play the Welsh side in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next month.

Harlequins kept their league play-off hopes alive with a 28-15 win at Bristol, while London Irish lost 19-16 at Bath and must now focus on their European match with Perpignan.