Rob Andrew is expected to back Brian Ashton to continue has England head coach when he delivers his extensive post-World Cup report at Twickenham today.

Ashton led England to the World Cup final after just 10 months in charge but his future in the job had been in doubt following the tournament.

Senior players Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt were both critical of his leadership in books published immediately after the World Cup.

And the RFU would not commit themselves to keeping Ashton in place until after Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, had conducted a thorough review.

Andrew will address the RFU management board having consulted the England players, the management staff and coaches from around the Guinness Premiership.

It is understood the report will recommend keeping Ashton on board as coach and wholesale changes to the coaching structure are unlikely.

That would mean forwards coach John Wells and defence specialist Mike Ford also being offered new contracts.

Such a conclusion would earn the full support of Jonny Wilkinson, who said recently: "I am a big fan of Brian and I would like to see him continue.

"He has always been a guy that can take the game forward. He can create an atmosphere and release players into being fully ambitious, daring to go out and play."

Ashton, like Andy Robinson before him, wants someone above him who can deal with the public face of the job and allow him to focus on coaching.

He is at his most comfortable and most effective on the training field and, as Wilkinson alluded to, many believe he is the ideal man to build a new-look England team from the raft of young talent ready to break through to the international stage.

Andrew is one obvious candidate for team manager. The former England outhalf, recruited from Newcastle to head up the newly-created elite rugby department at Twickenham, has successfully brokered a long-term agreement with the Premiership clubs.

With the deal now signed, Andrew may have more time to devote to the national team.

He played a supervisory role at the World Cup and may continue to do so until  the end of the current season but is reportedly wary of a permanent hands-on position, fearing it would compromise his current responsibilities as head of the elite department.

The other alternative would be to bring in an external figure. Dean Richards, currently the director of rugby at Harlequins, is often linked with the post.

RFU chairman Martyn Thomas said: "This is obviously a significant meeting because we get Rob Andrew's report on the World Cup and his thoughts as to what we should be doing going forward."