Healey reveals Ashton offer

Remember before everybody concentrated on Martin Johnson, there was talk of Phil de Glanville being Brian Ashton's preferred choice as England's Team Manager?

Remember before everybody concentrated on Martin Johnson, there was talk of Phil de Glanville being Brian Ashton's preferred choice as England's Team Manager?

In an interview with the Mirror newspaper, former England utility back Austin Healey has stated that the offer to De Glanville was on the table – as was an offer for Healey to coach the England backs.

“Since the first chaotic weeks of the World Cup, his position as head coach was under scrutiny. But not until in the days immediately after the Six Nations did the call for revolution arrive,” said Healey.

“Until then Brian had hatched plans to bring in Phil de Glanville as team manager – and me as backs coach.

“He told me he wanted help with team strategy so that he could get more into the coaching scenario and take a more objective view of his own sessions as opposed to being right in the middle of them.

“I got as far as being offered the job and had agreed to go on England's June tour to New Zealand to see if the arrangement suited both parties.”

The offer was made on the eve of England's final Six Nations clash against Ireland, a match which England won convincingly. But as the noises from the RFU grew, it became more and more apparent that Ashton's tenure was being ended torturously, and that the offer for Healey could no longer be valid.

“I don't think it was Rob Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, who changed tack,” continued Healey.

“I think it was the Union's Management Board suddenly changing their opinion of the way forward and encouraging Rob to change his mind as well.”

Despite seeing the door close on an opportunity to work with England, Healey remains hopeful of one day working with the country's elite on a coaching level – maybe as part of former Leicester and England team-mate Johnson's set-up.

“Whether that is my chance gone, I honestly don't know,” he said.

“I never wanted to take the job for the job's sake, but as an opportunity to challenge myself and hopefully inject some of the knowledge I've learned over the years into the team.

“I've spoken to Johnno over the possible make-up of his coaching staff. You have to be honest, it's a really exciting time.

“Right now though my feelings are for Brian Ashton.”