Step forward to lead England, Saint Mallinder

Halifax-born Mallinder is among the favourites to lead England into the next World Cup cycle after making such a promising start to life as a club coach with Northampton Saints.

Former England manager Geoff Cooke believes the 45-year-old, who played in his early days for Old Crossleyans and Roundhay, has the best credentials among the home-grown coaches to take the national team forward having won promotion and two trophies in just five years at Franklin’s Gardens.

The England vacancy arose yesterday when Johnson resigned following the team’s desperately poor showing at the recent World Cup.

New Zealander Graham Henry and South African Nick Mallett are among the contenders, but Cooke – who coached Bradford and Yorkshire before leading England to two Five Nations grand slams – believes the Rugby Football Union should appoint an Englishman.

Click here to read Nick Westby’s take on the events at Twickenham >>

Cooke, Fourie and Edwards have their say, plus vote on Johnson’s decision >>

“Jim Mallinder was a good player at Sale and he’s done a good job in his coaching role with Northampton,” said Cooke, after Mallinder guided Saints to last year’s Heineken Cup final.

“He’s one of England’s up-and-coming coaches.

“I always think that when you give these young guys a chance they’re the type to take it.

“The RFU might want a big name with experience at international level, which would inevitably mean looking abroad, and that would not be my preference.

“I’d go for an Englishman and Jim Mallinder would be my front-runner.

“I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I like to feel that whoever is tasked with the job is totally committed to the country and to the national team.

“Someone who cares, not just a coach who is picking up a fat salary. But that’s just me, a traditionalist.

“However, I could understand the reasoning behind a decision to go with a foreign coach like a Nick Mallett or a Jake White. They have great credentials but there would always be that question mark for me that even if they are successful you would be asking ‘yes, but we had to bring someone in to do it’.

“Whoever it is, it’s a great time to go in. It’s on the back of a depressing World Cup and the only way is up.”

England were dumped out of the recent World Cup at the quarter-final stage by France after a campaign beset by problems on and off the field.

But as he faced the media yesterday after three-and-a-half years in charge, Johnson denied he had been let down by his players.

A drunken night out in Queenstown, which resulted in Otley-born Mike Tindall being fined £25,000 by the RFU earlier this week, headed a number of indiscretions that Johnson admitted he could have done without.

But despite that the 2003 World Cup-winning captain refused to blame his players for his exit.

“The off-field stuff didn’t help,” he said.

“It portrays the team in a bad light and not in an accurate light. But we gave people the opportunity to report things as they did.

“I don’t know about being let down. Of course it didn’t help, we didn’t want that reputation.

“I warned the players if they open the door slightly it will get fully opened. They did that.

“How that affected performances on the field no one can answer.”

Johnson said he would leave at the end of his contract next month without too many regrets adding that he felt it was in the best interests of English rugby that he moved on.

“I’ve given this a huge amount of thought since we returned from the World Cup and didn’t come to this decision lightly,” he said.

“I think it’s in the best interests of myself and the England team that I don’t continue on into next year. It’s been a fantastic three-and-a-half years. I’ve worked with some fantastic players and a great coach and management group.

“On-field I think we made huge strides. The players we brought in over the past 12 to 18 months have become first-choice established.

“They have been to a World Cup and won a Six Nations.

“Part of me regrets leaving the job in these circumstances. There is unfinished business and a feeling to put things right. But I won’t leave with any regrets.”

RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew, who joined Johnson at yesterday’s press conference, denied he would follow him out the exit door.

“No, I’m absolutely not considering resigning,” he said. “My job is to run the department, not just the playing side of things.”

Andrew stood firm in the face of some heavy questioning about his position and instead looked to praise Johnson for a tenure highlighted by this year’s RBS Six Nations success as well as victory in Australia last year.

“Martin has worked tirelessly to develop this England team, from a position where the team needed a great deal of rebuilding following the 2007 World Cup,” he said.

“A whole new group of players has been introduced to the demands of Test match rugby and how many of these players respond to this disappointment will define their careers.”

Johnson won 21 of his 38 matches in charge; a win percentage of 55 per cent.

IN THE RUNNING FOR THE JOB

JIM MALLINDER: The outstanding domestic candidate, bookmakers’ favourite Mallinder is the only real option if the Rugby Football Union decide the post must be filled by an Englishman.

NICK MALLETT: Only last week Mallett expressed an interest in succeeding Johnson and the 55-year-old South African would be a highly popular choice having led the Springboks and Italy.

JAKE WHITE: South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning coach has only recently taken over Super 15 team ACT Brumbies.

GRAHAM HENRY: Guided New Zealand to World Cup glory only last month.

DEAN RYAN: Long-shot having left Gloucester in 2009 after failing to deliver.