Dean Richards believes Martin Johnson is the outstanding candidate should England decide to appoint an all-powerful team manager.

Johnson will reportedly meet Rob Andrew within the next 48 hours with Twickenham's director of elite rugby ready to hand him control of the England side.

The 2003 World Cup winning captain, 39, would be a popular choice as speculation continues to intensify over the future of head coach Brian Ashton.

Former England number eight Richards, who has coached and played alongside Johnson and was himself touted as a successor to Ashton last year, questions Johnson's tracksuit credentials.

But in managerial terms he insists the former Lions skipper's personality would make up for his lack of experience.

"Martin's understanding of the game is extremely high, probably second to none," he said.

"From a coaching perspective I don't know how much coaching he has done, so there would be have to be a huge question mark there.

"In terms of managing sides, managing players and coaches, there would have to be questions about whether that is his forte.

"But his general character is such that I don't think that would be too much of an issue for him.

"His qualities possibly would over-ride the fact he is short on experience."

Richards has warned England that Johnson would need to be given complete control, but recognises the impact that would have on Ashton and his assistants John Wells and Mike Ford.

"I don't know what the job description of the role will be, so it will be quite interesting to find out," he said.

"One of the things you require in that position is total control, which would then make Brian and the rest of the coaches particularly nervous."

Richards is dismayed by the uncertainty over Ashton's position with the incumbent head coach forced to wait until next week to discover his fate.

England followed up their appearance in the World Cup final with second place in this year's RBS 6 Nations, yet still the 61-year-old's future is in doubt.

Ashton received some welcome support from rising fly-half star Danny Cipriani, who insisted he was still the man to take the Red Rose forward.

"I just want what's best for Brian and if he wants to continue, which I know he does, he would relish it and be phenomenal," Cipriani said.

"Knowing Brian for so long, I think his ideas are very good and I really respond to the way he thinks.

"Obviously I'd like to have Brian around because I've known him for so long and I feel things have gone well. The team is really starting to gel."

However, the availability of Jake White, who led the Springboks to glory in France last autumn, has added another front to Ashton's battle to keep his job.

But Richards, currently director of rugby at Harlequins, claims England have performed well under Ashton and insists he must be involved on the summer tour to New Zealand.

"It's been a disastrous year from England's point of view hasn't it - coming second in the World Cup and second in the Six Nations. They must be kicking themselves!" he joked.

"Ten months ago England were going through a transitional period and had many inexperienced players.

"How ironic that everyone is now looking closely at Brian Ashton. I think he's doing a great job.

"Just look at the quality of players coming through like Danny Cipriani, David Strettle and Tom Croft, the experience they have lost and the position they now find themselves in.

"Yes, there probably has been a certain amount of discord within the camp, but when you go through a transitional period there will always be a bit of that.

"Brian should be part of the summer tour. Whether he should be the guy leading it depends on who the manager is and if there is one."

Andrew met Ashton at Twickenham on Tuesday as part of the RFU's standard tournament review and will present his report to the management board on March 26.

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