England appear on course to appoint Andy Robinson's managerial successor before the start of this season's Six Nations Championship campaign.

Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's elite rugby director, has confirmed he is on course to make a recommendation to the Twickenham management board tomorrow week.

Robinson and the RFU parted company following England's dismal autumn Test performances, when they lost to Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand.

Several names have been touted as potential replacements, including former England number eight Dean Richards and overseas coaches such as Warren Gatland and Nick Mallett.

But there is also a school of thought that current England attack coach Brian Ashton could take charge for the Six Nations games.

Andrew said: "My thinking is pretty clear, and I am expecting to be able to make a recommendation to the management board next Wednesday. We are working on a solution which will hopefully be seen as a full-time solution."

But when Andrew was pressed to reveal a name, he added: "We have had conversations with people. I am not ruling anyone in or anyone out."

Harlequins rugby director Richards yesterday insisted he had had no dialogue with the RFU about any England role, and he is currently under contract with his club until 2008.

Andrew and RFU chief executive Francis Baron, meanwhile, have straight-batted any response to England World-Cup winning coach Clive Woodward's broadside last weekend.

Woodward fiercely criticised Baron and Andrew as major reasons for England's current state of malaise, but Andrew said: "I am here to do a job. Whatever people think, and it is a free world, they can say what they want to say. I appreciate that everyone has an opinion in the game."