Ashton turns his back on RFU
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:18
Former England head coach Brian Ashton on Thursday rejected the chance to become head coach of the National Academy at the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
Ashton, 61, was offered the post after being dismissed as England coach in April in the aftermath of his team's disappointing Six Nations campaign.
But instead of resuming a job he had previously held from 2002 to 2005, Ashton opted to concentrate on developing his own company specialising in sports and business performance.
"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," 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."
Ashton led England to the World Cup Final last year and the RFU's move to give him his previous job back was interpreted as a snub in some quarters, but the former Bath coach has still agreed to provide the RFU with a High Level Performance consultancy.
The governing body's chief executive Francis 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."
AFP
