Martin Johnson was today on the verge of completing a deal to become England's new team manager as he held his final meeting with Rob Andrew.

Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, wasn't present at this afternoon's monthly briefing with the media at Twickenham, as he was putting the final touches to Johnson's seven-year contract.

Confirmation of the World Cup-winning skipper's appointment will come at a special meeting of the RFU Management Board next week when the immediate future of current head coach Brian Ashton will finally become clear.

It appears, though, that his days in charge are numbered, as Andrew will impose Johnson upon the coach.

Ashton had wanted to appoint his own manager but the elite director knew that the only way he could convince Johnson to come on board would be to offer him total control of England affairs.

It is not yet certain if Ashton or Johnson, whose wife is expecting a baby, will go on this summer's two-Test tour to New Zealand.

RFU chief executive Francis Barron was insistent that Ashton had been consulted at every stage of the recruitment process for Johnson.

He said: "I am concerned about claims that Brian was not being consulted because I am being told he is. Rob has different systems in mind but that does not exclude Brian.

"I don't know if we will be appointing a new head coach because we are only dealing with a new team manager. Rob is currently putting the final pieces of the jigsaw together and we expect it to be all sorted out fairly quickly.

"Brian will have an input in the team manager position and he has not been isolated. The team manager position has to be approved by the management board."

Johnson is still expected to be handed the official title of team manager, even though some reports earlier today suggested that he would be offered the position of head coach - the role that Ashton currently occupies.