England coach Brian Ashton has been forced aside by the RFU who this afternoon installed World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson as team manager.
Ashton has been offered the role of head coach of the RFU's national academy after the management board chose to unanimously approve the recommendations of elite rugby director Rob Andrew on strengthening the England team structure.
Johnson (38) will not begin his new role until July 1st because his wife is expecting a baby. His contract runs until December 31st, 2011.
The forrmer secondrow will have "full managerial control of the England team, including the appointment of the coaching and management team as well as the player selection process," a statement on the RFU website said this afternoon.
Andrew will manage England in the meantime and will be in charge for the Barbarians clash at Twickenham on June 1st, and the two-Test tour of New Zealand later that month.
There is no news at this stage whether or not 61-year-old Ashton, who took charge of England for 22 Tests and led them to last autumn's World Cup final, will accept Twickenham's offer.
"I would like to thank Brian for the job he has done in difficult circumstances," Andrew said. "He is an outstanding coach and deserves enormous credit.
"Whilst Brian is naturally disappointed he will not have a role in the new senior structure I believe the post we have offered him is ideally suited to his special talents and expertise."
Existing forwards coach John Wells and defence coach Mike Ford - Ashton's lieutenants this season - are to remain in their posts.
The coaching team for England's two-Test New Zealand trip has been confirmed as Wells, Ford, Graham Rowntree and Jon Callard.
"It is a great honour for me to be offered this position," Johnson said this afternoon. "I am passionate about the England team and delivering success for it.
"While I cannot take up my position until July 1st for personal reasons, I will be working closely with Rob and the England coaching team on selection for the Barbarians match and the New Zealand tour, as well as selecting the first senior elite player squad of 32 under thenew agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby."
