Baron rejects Woodward’s calls for his resignation

TWICKENHAM supremo Francis Baron has rejected calls from Clive Woodward to step aside as Rugby Football Union chief executive.

Woodward fired a broadside at Baron and RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew, blaming them for the state of English rugby, which includes the national team winning just one of their last nine Test matches.

But Baron was in no mood for a verbal scrap, preferring instead to recall “five great years” working with Woodward, which included England’s 2003 World Cup triumph.

Baron said: “I had five great years working in partnership with Clive. I think Clive and I probably formed one of the most successful partnerships in rugby anywhere in the world over an extended period of time.

“I have great memories of that, and I am not going to say anything now which seems to be a tit for tat. As far as I am concerned, my working relationship with Clive was outstanding. He produced great results on the field, I produced great results off the field.”

Asked if he would step down from his job, Baron replied: “No, I won’t.

“We have got a massive programme in place. On the commercial side, there is the South Stand to complete — there is another year’s work there — and I am determined to see all that through.

“In my period in office, we’ve had seven good years and one lousy year. I don’t like lousy years on my record, and I am going to make sure we put it right and we get back on track to having good years again.”

England launch their RBS Six Nations Championship campaign against Scotland in barely seven weeks, but moves to appoint Andy Robinson’s immediate successor as head coach could be completed by Christmas.

Harlequins rugby director Dean Richards, former Wasps chief Warren Gatland and ex-Springboks boss Nick Mallett have all been touted as potential candidates — but the answer could lie closer to home.

England attack coach Brian Ashton looks best placed to take the reins, certainly for the Six Nations, although Andrew continued to give nothing away as he prepares to make his recommendation to tomorrow week’s RFU management board meeting.

Andrew said: “My thinking is pretty clear now in terms of where I think it should go.”

And as for Woodward’s criticism, he added: “I am here to do a job, and I will do that to the best of my ability. Whatever people think of that, it’s a free world and they can say what they want to say.”