The history of incompetency and self-interest and the RFU is long.
Regardless of your satisfaction, or lack thereof, at England’s recent Six Nations performance, the latest dealings at the RFU leave a bitter aftertaste.
The current review of the management structures, coming not four months after the last review, is the latest in a long line of serial failings – failings in decorum and decency as much as outcome.
It is now looking more and more likely that the RFU are going to get their man and that Martin Johnson is going to become the latest England supremo, albeit possibly beneath uber-uber-supremo and uber-review-meister Rob Andrew (what does he do exactly for the money?).
But I can’t help but feel sorry for Brian Ashton. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s not the man for the top job. I’ve also had my doubts over Ashton’s reputation anyway. Nevertheless, having requested a manager to deal with the non-playing side of things, Ashton has been treated shamefully. Even though I have my doubts about him, I hope he can be persuaded to prove himself, or otherwise, as a back alongside Johnson as the backs coach.
Talk of Leicester lip, Austin Healey, coming in as a backs coach are surely way wide of the mark and, with no track record as a coach at club level but a loudmouth reputation, can only have been started by the man himself. Rumours of Catt’s involvement can also be dismissed. Regardless of anyone’s reputation as a player, there is no shortcut to coaching involvement at the highest level where even coaches with apparently gold-plated qualifications can be exposed in an instance.
Will Johnson see a place for Ashton or can he persuade Edwards to join a dream team?
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