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| England close on new head coach | England close on new head coach |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| England could have a new head coach as early as Wednesday - and the hot tip for the job appears to be Brian Ashton. | England could have a new head coach as early as Wednesday - and the hot tip for the job appears to be Brian Ashton. |
| Ashton, England's attack coach under former boss Andy Robinson, is thought to be the choice of new Rugby Football Union elite director Rob Andrew. | |
| Andrew will make his recommendation to the RFU management board on Wednesday, although any decision will need ratifying at a meeting on 9 February. | Andrew will make his recommendation to the RFU management board on Wednesday, although any decision will need ratifying at a meeting on 9 February. |
| But, in practice, Robinson's successor could be installed straight away. | But, in practice, Robinson's successor could be installed straight away. |
| "We will have a new coach, all being well, on Wednesday," RFU chairman Martyn Thomas told BBC Sport on Monday. | |
| "I've been with Rob Andrew this morning and with [RFU chief executive] Francis Baron. There are just one or two pieces to sort out, but all being well there will be a new coach announced on Wednesday." | |
| Ashton, 60, was head coach of Ireland between 1997 and 1998 but a lacklustre spell of results saw him replaced by New Zealander Warren Gatland. | |
| Lancashire's Ashton then spent four years as a member of Sir Clive Woodward's England coaching staff before becoming the RFU national academy manager. | |
| He then linked up with England again seven months ago following a short second period in charge at Bath. | |
| Other names that have been linked with the England post include former England star and Harlequins boss Dean Richards and former Wasps coach Gatland. | |
| 606 DEBATE: Would you back Ashton's appointment? | 606 DEBATE: Would you back Ashton's appointment? |
| Ex-South Africa coach Nick Mallett and former Wallabies boss Eddie Jones have ruled themselves out of the running. | Ex-South Africa coach Nick Mallett and former Wallabies boss Eddie Jones have ruled themselves out of the running. |
| Robinson, 42, was axed following England's dismal autumn Test series, during which they lost to Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand. | Robinson, 42, was axed following England's dismal autumn Test series, during which they lost to Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand. |
| His 25-month spell in charge yielded 13 defeats from 22 games and saw England slip alarmingly down the International Rugby Board rankings. | His 25-month spell in charge yielded 13 defeats from 22 games and saw England slip alarmingly down the International Rugby Board rankings. |
| The 2003 World Cup winners begin their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Twickenham on 3 February. | The 2003 World Cup winners begin their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Twickenham on 3 February. |