RFU chief backs Johnson
ByActing RFU chief executive Martyn Thomas has backed England head coach Martin Johnson to keep his job after a disastrous World Cup campaign that ended with defeat at the hands of France in the Quarter Finals.
England were dogged by off the field incidents during the tournament, and courted media coverage following a drunken night out in Queenstown and a complaint from a hotel staff member against James Haskell, Chris Ashton and Dylan Hartley, who were accused of inappropriate behaviour and subsequently reprimanded by Johnson.
Johnson’s contract with the RFU is up at the end of the year and has yet to even declare an interest in continuing on with the job, but Thomas believes the criticism that the 2003 World Cup winning captain who hung up his Rugby Boots soon after has come in for unfair and that he could still carry on in the role.
“He was never ever set a deadline (in declaring an interest in the job), it was merely an informal situation, as and when you’ve made a decision as to whether you wish to carry on or not, let us know,” Thomas told Radio Five Live.
“I’ve not actually spoken to him since he left New Zealand but I have left him a message on his phone.
“He’s had a torrid World Cup, a lot of it not of his making. I’ve always expressed confidence in Martin. I believed he was the right appointment. I accept the fact he didn’t have the coaching experience, but it was about getting a man in who could manage the process, who understood the process and would appoint the right coaches. I will wait and see what the review says. That’s my position.” He added.
Thomas is leading a review of England’s disastrous World Cup campaign along with numerous other investigations into what went wrong in New Zealand. Since England’s exit after defeat against France calls have been made for the return of Clive Woodward, who guided England to glory in 2003, but Thomas insists he has made no contact with Woodward over the possibility of taking up the role.
“The media have said I wanted to bring Clive Woodward back to Twickenham.” He commented.
“That is not my position, and it has never been my position. What I have said is that we should openly advertise and we should interview people. If at the end of the interview process Clive Woodward is the right man because he ticks the boxes for the interview panel, they believe him the right man, then he should be appointed.
“If that panel interviews him and decides he’s not the right man he should not be appointed.”
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
RFU chief backs Johnson
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