Brian Ashton has agreed terms with the Rugby Football Union - but not as their national academy head coach.

The former England boss has rejected a role initially offered to him by Twickenham top brass more than three months ago.

Despite Ashton leading England to the 2007 World Cup final and a second-placed finish in last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship, it was a return deemed not good enough.

Martin Johnson, England's 2003 World Cup-winning captain, was appointed manager, while Brian Smith recently left London Irish to join existing England coaches John Wells and Mike Ford.

The whole Ashton saga, though, left a bitter taste, an episode the RFU might never completely live down.

The RFU received widespread condemnation for their handling of Ashton, with many people feeling the national academy offer amounted to nothing more than a derisory move.

Ashton will now provide what has been termed "a range of high-level performance consultancy services" for the RFU.

This renewable annual contract with the RFU will be for Ashton's own company, SCD South West Limited.

Although no specific details of his consultancy role have been divulged, Ashton's work could effectively involve dealings with RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew.

Andrew's handling of the Ashton affair was criticised in many quarters.

Ashton said: "I have given full and careful consideration over the last two months to my future career plans.

"And I have decided to develop my own company delivering high-level performance processes in all areas of sporting and business life.

"I now consider it the correct time to develop more varied challenges than just dealing with professional rugby.

"I am most grateful to the RFU for allowing me time and space to consider my future plans.

"I have decided not to accept the post offered to me by the RFU of head coach of the national academy, as this was a full-time post which would not have allowed me to develop my own business and pursue other interests.

"I am excited by the new opportunities in front of me and I am looking forward to providing a range of services to the RFU in the areas of elite coaching and coach development."

Several members of the RFU hierarchy came under sustained fire during the Ashton fall-out, but there was only praise today for the Lancastrian from RFU chief executive Francis Baron and management board chairman Martyn Thomas.

Baron said: "We fully understand and support Brian's desire to develop his own business interests, and are delighted that Brian has agreed to offer his services to us under the new consultancy agreement.

"Brian has served the union with distinction in a number of positions, and we are pleased that his special talents, not least in the area of coaching expertise and the development of young elite athletes, will continue to be available to us through the new agreement with him.

"We will support Brian's new business venture in any way we can."

Thomas added: "The new agreement is good for Brian and good for the RFU.

"It will enable Brian to focus his time and energy on those areas in which he has special and unique skills. We look forward to a long and continuing relationship with Brian."

Ashton initially linked up with England under Clive Woodward in 1998, before he moved to the RFU national academy four years later.

Ashton then took over from Andy Robinson as England head coach in November, 2006, an 18-month reign highlighted by a second successive World Cup final appearance.

England, meanwhile, will launch the Johnson era against the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham on November 8. The elite England squad, under Johnson, assemble for a training camp in London next month.

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