RFU insist Ashton still has future

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Ashton's position is certain to be compromised by the appointment of Martin Johnson as team manager at next week's Rugby Football Union management board meeting.

Financial details of the Johnson deal have yet to be finalised and are complicated by his business interests. The ex-England captain is a director of a company that provides equipment to unions and the British and Irish Lions.

Francis Baron, the RFU chief executive, insists elite rugby director Rob Andrew does not have the power to give Johnson an "open chequebook" and wants to keep the existing coaching group in place to avoid the compensation paid out to former coach Andy Robinson.

Baron, who attempted to defend Andrew following a personal attack by Sir Clive Woodward, said: "The team manager's job description has been finalised and is now being discussed with key individuals.

"We want to add to the structure, not destroy it.

"The management will have to be happy with the new structure. We will get a very clear proposal from Rob Andrew, who is a very experienced and rational man.

"I was very surprised by some of the comments from Clive Woodward and it saddened me.

"Management structures evolve, which is what happened when Clive was in charge.

"He didn't rip everything up and start again. I don't buy into that."