Brian Ashton gained an MBE in the New Year's Honours List three months ago.

He should now receive a knighthood in recognition of the dignified silence he has maintained since England's RBS 6 Nations campaign reached its conclusion 12 days ago.

The Rugby Football Union have hardly covered themselves in glory with how Ashton has apparently been treated during that time.

But stick to your guns Brian, and please resist any temptation to throw toys out of the pram - because that is what some of the Twickenham-blazered brigade want.

The RFU management board yesterday issued a 198-word statement after their elite rugby director Rob Andrew presented an interim report on England's Six Nations performance.

Included in that statement were hearty congratulations for the England senior team, England Saxons, England Under-20s, England women, Uncle Tom Cobley and all - but not a mention of Ashton.

Ignorance, because that's what it is, of a head coach who took England to second-placed World Cup and Six Nations finishes during a five-month spell, and whose England record after 22 Tests is better than both his immediate predecessors - Andy Robinson and Sir Clive Woodward.

Ashton has seen England win 12 and lose 10 since he succeeded Robinson in December 2006.

Robinson's 22-Test England reign produced nine victories and 13 defeats, while Woodward could claim only 10 victories during the same number of games.

Woodward's England, lest it be forgotten, also blew more than one Grand Slam before conquering the rugby world in 2003.

Somehow though, different rules apply for Ashton.

He remains England head coach, but he will have started planning for the two-Test New Zealand tour in June against the most uncertain of back-drops.

We can assume from yesterday's RFU bulletin Andrew is now set to continue discussions he started last week with England's 2003 World Cup captain Martin Johnson about a team manager role.

Andrew, too, has been authorised to recruit another specialist coach - Mike Catt? Austin Healey? Shaun Edwards? - but where it all leaves Ashton is anyone's guess.

Johnson, is it widely accepted, will not come in as a team manager whose roles include arranging the flowers and bottled water for press conferences.

Johnson, one might imagine, would want - and is likely to get - control over critical areas such as selection and coaching appointments. He might even request a say in tactics.

Ashton, in contrast, has requested a purely administrative manager, someone with no input on rugby matters.

Ashton, it has been reported, would like the affable ex-Bath and England captain Phil de Glanville to fill such a post.

Andrew though, wants Johnson, and it is now full steam ahead to get his man.

Andrew will then present his recommendation to the RFU's Club England committee, before it is ratified by their management board, probably by the middle of next month.

But what then for Ashton?

Johnson's brief would unquestionably be the polar opposite to what Ashton wants, and if Johnson is given the power to hire and fire coaches, then who can confidently predict Ashton will have a job with England beyond this season?

To me, it looks as if Ashton will be presented with a take it or leave it scenario.

Some at the RFU hope he hurriedly chooses the latter option, returning swiftly to the picturesque Wiltshire village he inhabits.

One cannot help thinking Ashton has become an inconvenience for the RFU's star-struck fraternity.

Perhaps they cast an envious eye across the Severn Bridge and see what Wales achieved this season, then wonder why England didn't land the Six Nations title in Grand Slam fashion.

Maybe I have too simplistic an approach on life, but didn't Wales have better players who performed to a higher standard?

Looking at the two sides that finished this season's Six Nations campaign, perhaps only three England men would have made Wales' starting XV - wing Paul Sackey, fly-half Danny Cipriani and prop Andrew Sheridan.

Ashton though, deserves a chance to develop England's potential 2011 World Cup stars - individuals like Cipriani, Danny Care, Shane Geraghty, Dylan Hartley and Tom Croft.

Ashton also must be given an opportunity to work under a hugely-beneficial new structure for elite English rugby from July 1, when the significant eight-year agreement between Premier Rugby and the RFU kicks into action.

Under that agreement, Ashton gains mightily-improved training access to the England squad, and the chances are consistently successful results would then follow.

England and Ashton, I believe, are close to cracking the winning formula, yet time appears to be running out and the shrill blast of Twickenham's final whistle could be heard at any time.

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