Ashton Handed 'indefinite' Deal

England coach Brian Ashton's new contract is an "indefinite" one, according to the Rugby Football Union's elite rugby director Rob Andrew. The RFU announced yesterday, following the completion of Andrew's World Cup review, that Ashton would be retained, but it only emerged today that no fixed term had been placed on the coach's new contract.

"It is very straightforward as far as the contractual situation is concerned," said Andrew this afternoon. "The contract is an indefinite contract, with no time limit. He might be here in 2015. It has a notice period, like all contracts have."

Ashton's coaching methods came under fire during the World Cup and, particularly afterwards, in books written by players Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt. But Andrew went on to insist too much had been made of the review, pointing out the RFU now routinely carry out such a process after any major tournament or tour.

"I am not going to go into the details of the review," he continued. It has been overplayed in some quarters. We carried out a review in the autumn last year and after the Six Nations. It is slightly more detailed and has taken longer than the previous two reviews, but they form part of what we do."

Ashton, who took on the job a year ago after the departure of Andy Robinson, has set a series of goals leading up to the 2011 World Cup. The former Bath coach said: "I'm obviously absolutely delighted to be asked to continue. It is a fantastic honour to be in this position in any sport in this country.

"I feel very proud and am looking forward to getting on with it. I look at the way forward in three stages. In 2008 there is the Six Nations and the New Zealand tour, the next period is to the end of the 2009 Argentina tour and then we ought to be in a good position to move forward to the 2011 World Cup. There are short, medium and long-term objectives over the next four years."

Andrew and Ashton will now work together to assemble a management team around the England side. There have been suggestions a manager could be brought in to ease the burden on Ashton but no announcement has been made.

"It could still happen," Andrew added. "This is not the end of the decision-making process, it is just the start. But that is something for Brian and I to discuss and for Brian to tell me what he wants."