Brian Ashton is considering his next move after being dumped as England head coach.
While 2003 World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson prepares to take what the Rugby Football Union describe as "full managerial control", Ashton begins life as an ex-head coach.
And he must decide whether to take up the RFU's offer of a post as national academy boss - effectively his old job - or leave Twickenham instead.
The latter option looks likely, especially given the dreadful way he has been treated by RFU top brass while they publicly courted Johnson.
And the 61-year-old has found an ally in former England hooker Brian Moore.
Moore, a qualified solicitor, said: "What has happened to Ashton is illegal. It is the clearest constructive dismissal I have ever seen.
"Irrespective of that, you don't do this to people. You don't treat your top man like this.
"How can they offer him another job? What could be of equal rank to the head coach?
"You go from being the top man to being coach of the academy - I don't think so.''
Ashton's exit as head coach comes just four months after he was re-appointed by Rob Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, following a two-month review into the World Cup.
Ashton had guided England into the final, despite taking charge only 10 months earlier when Andy Robinson departed on the back of eight defeats in nine Tests.
Johnson, meanwhile, has agreed a three-and-a-half year deal as team manager, thought to be worth around £900,000.
He will officially take up his post on July 1, the day a new pioneering eight-year agreement between the RFU and Guinness Premiership clubs begins.
Johnson will not to travel to New Zealand for England's two Tests against the
All Blacks in June because his wife Kay will be in the latter stages of pregnancy.
Andrew, on whose recommendation Johnson has been appointed, is to carry out team manager duties for that trip, plus England's June 1 clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Existing England coaches John Wells (forwards) and Mike Ford (defence) remain in their posts. They will be joined in New Zealand by scrummaging specialist Graham Rowntree and kicking coach Jon Callard.
Johnson said: "It is a great honour for me to be offered this position.
"I am passionate about the England team and delivering success for it.
"While I cannot take up my position until July 1 for personal reasons, I will be working closely with Rob and the England coaching team on selection for the Barbarians match and the New Zealand tour.
"This will be as well as selecting the first senior elite player squad of 32 under the new agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby."
RFU chief executive Francis Baron added: "Martin Johnson's appointment will
greatly strengthen the England team management and coaching structure.
"Martin has the freedom and the budget to recruit additional coaching resource, and make other changes to the England set-up to build a team that will consistently challenge for the major international tournaments.''
Johnson has not been involved in front-line rugby since he retired from playing in 2005, carving out a lucrative media and corporate career instead.
As a player, he won the World Cup, landed a Six Nations Grand Slam and enjoyed regular European and domestic success with his club Leicester, but his new post should prove by some distance the most challenging he has faced.
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