England have confidence in Johnson
English rugby chief Martyn Thomas gave team manager Martin Johnson a vote of confidence on Friday and insisted he had not been given a deadline to indicate if he wants to continue in the job.
Thomas, the acting Chief Executive of the strife-torn RFU, told the BBC that no pressure had been put on Johnson to decide whether or not he wishes to be considered for reappointment when his contract ends in December.
Thomas was widely quoted earlier this month saying Johnson had been given “7 to 14 days” to make up his mind following England’s dismal World Cup campaign, which was marked by off-field controversies.
However, Thomas said on Friday that his earlier comments had been miscontrued.
“He was never ever set a deadline, 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 BBC Radio.
“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,” he explained.
Thomas said he was waiting for the results of a review into England’s World Cup failure which was being led by former England international Fran Cotton.
Thomas, meanwhile, said it had “never been his position” to bring England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward back into the fold.
“The media have said I wanted to bring Clive Woodward back to Twickenham,” he said.
“That is not my position, and it has never been my position,” he added.
“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,” he concluded.
AFP
