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| England appoint Ashton to top job | England appoint Ashton to top job |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former Bath and Ireland coach Brian Ashton has been appointed as England head coach with immediate effect. | Former Bath and Ireland coach Brian Ashton has been appointed as England head coach with immediate effect. |
| Ashton has been promoted from his role as attack coach and will continue to work with forwards and defence specialists John Wells and Mike Ford. | Ashton has been promoted from his role as attack coach and will continue to work with forwards and defence specialists John Wells and Mike Ford. |
| "It's a massive privilege and honour to be asked to do the job," said Ashton. | "It's a massive privilege and honour to be asked to do the job," said Ashton. |
| "I recognise the challenges ahead and, along with the other coaches, my focus now is to prepare the England team to play Scotland in the Six Nations." | "I recognise the challenges ahead and, along with the other coaches, my focus now is to prepare the England team to play Scotland in the Six Nations." |
| Speculation had suggested that Ashton's appointment was a short-term solution until another head coach or manager could be appointed, but the RFU has insisted this is not the case. | Speculation had suggested that Ashton's appointment was a short-term solution until another head coach or manager could be appointed, but the RFU has insisted this is not the case. |
| Ashton's appointment was unanimously agreed by the Rugby Football Union's management board after his name was put forward by director of elite rugby Rob Andrew. | Ashton's appointment was unanimously agreed by the Rugby Football Union's management board after his name was put forward by director of elite rugby Rob Andrew. |
| The 60-year-old will be formally unveiled at a Twickenham news conference at 1600 GMT on Wednesday. | The 60-year-old will be formally unveiled at a Twickenham news conference at 1600 GMT on Wednesday. |
| Brian is the right man to lead the coaches and players into a new period for English rugby RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew | Brian is the right man to lead the coaches and players into a new period for English rugby RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew |
| Andrew said he had no doubts about moving Ashton up to replace former head coach Andy Robinson, who resigned at the end of November after a dismal run of results. | Andrew said he had no doubts about moving Ashton up to replace former head coach Andy Robinson, who resigned at the end of November after a dismal run of results. |
| "Brian is the most experienced coach in England, he has enormous respect with the players and he has massive international and club experience," said Andrew. | "Brian is the most experienced coach in England, he has enormous respect with the players and he has massive international and club experience," said Andrew. |
| "This coaching team have only been together since May and I believe Brian is the right man to lead the coaches and players into a new period for English rugby starting with the Six Nations opener against Scotland (on 3 February 2007)." | "This coaching team have only been together since May and I believe Brian is the right man to lead the coaches and players into a new period for English rugby starting with the Six Nations opener against Scotland (on 3 February 2007)." |
| 606 DEBATE: Give your reaction to this news | 606 DEBATE: Give your reaction to this news |
| But former England prop Jeff Probyn said Ashton's appointment was a mistake. | |
| "It's a short term stopgap and that's not what England need," said Probyn. | |
| "They need to put in place a structure that will take them forward for the next 10 years rather than taking a short-term view. | |
| As a head coach, decision-maker and planner, he's not the right man Former England prop Jeff Probyn | As a head coach, decision-maker and planner, he's not the right man Former England prop Jeff Probyn |
| "The current thinking is obviously let's appoint Brian, get through the World Cup and then appoint someone else. | "The current thinking is obviously let's appoint Brian, get through the World Cup and then appoint someone else. |
| "Brian works well alongside others who make decisions. Coaching-wise he's the man to take England forward. | "Brian works well alongside others who make decisions. Coaching-wise he's the man to take England forward. |
| "But as a head coach, decision-maker and planner of the broader vision to take England forward, he's not the right man." | "But as a head coach, decision-maker and planner of the broader vision to take England forward, he's not the right man." |
| Ashton joined up with England for a second time in May, along with Wells and Ford, to help Robinson arrest England's decline since the 2003 World Cup. | Ashton joined up with England for a second time in May, along with Wells and Ford, to help Robinson arrest England's decline since the 2003 World Cup. |
| But England's run of eight defeats in their last nine Tests saw Robinson forced out at the end of November. | But England's run of eight defeats in their last nine Tests saw Robinson forced out at the end of November. |
| Ashton did not enjoy much success while coaching Ireland | Ashton did not enjoy much success while coaching Ireland |
| Ashton was head coach of Ireland between 1997 and 1998, but a lacklustre spell of results saw him replaced by Warren Gatland. | Ashton was head coach of Ireland between 1997 and 1998, but a lacklustre spell of results saw him replaced by Warren Gatland. |
| Ireland won only two of their nine Tests under Ashton, losing twice to Italy and suffering heavy defeats at the hands of New Zealand and England during his tenure. | Ireland won only two of their nine Tests under Ashton, losing twice to Italy and suffering heavy defeats at the hands of New Zealand and England during his tenure. |
| Ashton then spent four years as a member of Sir Clive Woodward's England coaching staff before becoming the RFU National Academy manager. | Ashton then spent four years as a member of Sir Clive Woodward's England coaching staff before becoming the RFU National Academy manager. |
| The Lancastrian has also spent two successful periods at the helm of English Premiership side Bath, where he also served as Jack Rowell's assistant for many years. | The Lancastrian has also spent two successful periods at the helm of English Premiership side Bath, where he also served as Jack Rowell's assistant for many years. |