Andrew poised to nominate Johnson

tinca · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject: Andrew poised to nominate Johnson

Rob Andrew is set to nominate who he wants as England's new team manager at a specially convened Rugby Football Union board meeting on Wednesday.

Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, is widely expected to propose the appointment of England's World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson.

The RFU's 14-man management board under chairman Martyn Thomas will also learn the job description for the new role.

A new specialist backs coach is also set to be appointed.

The speculation over Johnson's involvement has been circulating for several weeks, but RFU chief executive Francis Baron refused to mention the former Leicester star by name in a media briefing last week.

We can't force people to work together if they don't want to

RFU chief executive Francis Baron
But Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards confirmed he met with Johnson last week to discuss a potential role in a new England set-up, before signing a new contract to stay with Wales.

The precise job description for the England team manager has yet to be confirmed, with attention focusing on whether the new role will impinge on the duties of head coach Brian Ashton.

The 61-year-old asked for a manager to be appointed to help take away some of his workload and allow him to concentrate on coaching.

But Ashton insisted he did not want a manager who would become involved in rugby matters like team selection or tactics. Johnson is understood to be interested in the role only if he has a major say in exactly those areas.

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