LONDON (AFP) - Brian Ashton's future as coach of the England rugby union team is expected to be clarified Wednesday when Rob Andrew, the elite rugby director of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), delivers his review of the Six Nations to the national governing body's management board.

England, despite losing to both Wales and Scotland, finished second in the tournament - their highest Six Nations placing since 2003 when they completed a Grand Slam before winning the World Cup.

But reports have since emerged that Martin Johnson, England's World Cup-winning captain of five years ago, has been contacted by Andrew regarding his taking on a new managerial role.

Ashton has made it clear ever since becoming England coach in 2006 that he would like to have a manager on board to help with administrative duties but not someone who would reduce his authority with regard to purely rugby matters.

Although Johnson has no coaching experience, the double British and Irish Lions captain is unlikely to be satisfied with a figurehead role without any meaningful input into the team's preparations.

Even though England reached last year's World Cup final under the 61-year-old Ashton's guidance, after he was parachuted in following the unsuccessful reign of Andy Robinson, his position has been repeatedly called into question.

Former England internationals Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt both suggested in their autobiographies, published after the World Cup, that England had reached the final in Paris, where they lost to South Africa, in spite of but not because of Ashton.

Ashton's supporters insist the coach, who has set great store by players having the ability to work things out for themselves on the pitch, has been unfairly maligned and point to England's recent finishes in their two most important competitions - the World Cup and the Six Nations - as proof he must be doing something right.

Unlike many head coaches, Ashton didn't select his own backroom staff but 'inherited' forwards chief John Wells and defence specialist Mike Ford.

There have been repeated reports of the trio clashing and the position of both Ford and Wells is set to be considered in Andrew's report.

Meanwhile South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White, who quit the Springboks soon after their triumph in Paris, has re-iterated his interest in becoming England coach.

Austin Healey, a former team-mate of Johnson's who like the ex-England captain has no coaching experience, has been touted a someone who could advise the backs even though that is Ashton's primary area of expertise.

Former Great Britain rugby league great Shaun Edwards, who turned down a coaching position with the England 'A' team, was snapped up by Wales and then won plaudits for his work in improving the 2008 Grand Slam-winners' defence.

But Edwards now appears committed to Wales for the foreseeable future. Whatever decisions are made will also reflect on Andrew's judgment.

It was he who, after the World Cup, advised the RFU, to keep Ashton on a one-year rolling contract rather than point him through to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Former England outside-half Andrew also questioned whether Edwards could combine his ongoing position as Wasps head coach with his part-time Wales role - something Edwards appears to have had no major problems with on either front.

Ex-England prop Jeff Probyn, said Andrew would be crazy to bring in Johnson and that, if he did, he'd expect Ashton to resign.

"Rob needs his head examined if he recommends bringing Martin Johnson in," Probyn said. "If you believe that Brian Ashton isn't making the right decisions then you need to put someone in there who does make the right decisions.

"Brian wants an administrator, but Martin would want a say in the rugby. If you did put a manager like that in there you'd expect Brian to resign."

England tour New Zealand in June when they will play two Tests against the All Blacks.