Andrew rejects England job link

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Rob Andrew has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Andy Robinson as England's head coach.

Andrew, currently the Rugby Football Union's elite director of rugby, had been tipped to take over the rein of the struggling World Cup holders.

Ex-England centre Jeremy Guscott backed his old team-mate to steady the England ship, at least in the short term.

But Andrew told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's not the role I came in to do, and not the role I want to do."

<a onClick="javascript:launchAVConsoleStory('6157859'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/video_and_audio/help_guide/4304501.stm">Interview: RFU elite director Rob Andrew</a>

He said: "We now have to reflect on what is required next in the context of the rest of this season and the World Cup.

"I don't expect that to mean me taking temporary control."

Andrew said any new recruit was unlikely to take charge before the Six Nations in February, and might not be in place until after the World Cup in September.

He also admitted England's new team boss would be more of a manager in the Sir Clive Woodward mould than a hands-on head coach.

Guscott had earlier said Andrew should relinquish some of his existing duties and become a team supremo like World Cup-winning boss Woodward.

"He would be the overseer and let the coaches get on with coaching," he told BBC Sport.

Andrew is responsible for overseeing all aspects of representative rugby, including strategy and selection for the England team, recruiting coaches and negotiating with the clubs over player availability.

No-one is questioning Andy Robinson as a man - you couldn't wish to meet a nicer bloke - but on a professional level he wasn't successful Jeremy Guscott

England attack coach Brian Ashton has been installed as the early favourite to step up and take over from Robinson.

But Guscott, who played under Ashton at Bath, said that would be a mistake.

"Brian is a very good coach and I would like to see him as just a coach, just as I would have liked to see Andy Robinson concentrate on coaching," he said.

"To combine the roles of attack coach and head coach at international level is incredibly difficult and I wouldn't advise it.

"The three coaches there, Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford, haven't had enough time to become one.

"The coaching panel should stay as it is - I don't think anyone should be promoted upwards."

Aside from Andrew, Guscott said Harlequins coach Dean Richards would be a perfect choice.

606: DEBATE <a class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A17780123">My preference would be for a caretaker to take us up to the next World Cup, use the time to try some new blood, then bring Martin Johnson in to take us through to 2011</a> HX <a class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/606/default.stm">606: Have your say</a>

"If this isn't the job Rob wants to do, I think the ideal candidate would be Dean Richards.

"Clive Woodward didn't coach, he managed, and the same is true of Dean Richards. He's got a proven track record at Leicester and now at Quins."

Guscott, a friend of Robinson having played with him for Bath and England, said the RFU had no choice but to part with their head coach on Wednesday.

"Based on results alone, no-one could have kept their job in that position," he said.

Guscott said Robinson had been reluctant to resign because of personal pride and belief.

"He is immensely proud and has such personal belief he could turn things round. That's the reason I believe he stayed," he added.