Woodward rules out return to England coaching role

Clive Woodward insisted he had no desire to coach England again following Martin Johnson's resignation as manager. Johnson lifted the World Cup in 2003 as England captain when Woodward was the manager. But after being parachuted into the post of England manager in 2008, with no previous coaching or management experience, Johnson resigned Wednesday following a disappointing World Cup campaign where the team failed to reach their stated goal of a semi-final spot after a last eight loss to France. "I've no wish to coach England again," Woodward, now the director of sport at the British Olympic Association, told Sky Sports on Thursday. "I'm totally committed to the BOA," Woodward added ahead of next year's London Olympic Games. England's campaign in New Zealand was also blighted by several off-field incidents involving their players, notably a drunken night out in Queenstown where 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall, recently married to the granddaughter of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, was caught on camera being kissed by an unknown woman. Former Test centre Woodward, who like Johnson played for Leicester, said he'd urged his skipper not to take the England job when the legendary lock got in touch with him prior to taking charge of the national side. "I actually said you should come to Leicester, spend four or five years there and earn your stripes. "I said you've got to earn your stripes, your credibility. Martin Johnson took a big risk. Why did we put someone in that position when we didn't need to?" Earlier, ex-England captain Lewis Moody said he was "genuinely gutted" by Johnson's decision to quit and insisted he was still the best man for the job. Moody, England's captain in New Zealand, retired from international rugby after the World Cup, The Bath flanker, who started his career with Johnson at Leicester, said he was sad his old team-mate wouldn't be in charge come the 2015 World Cup in England. "I am genuinely gutted for Martin and the team to hear that he has decided not to continue in the role," Moody said. "As I've said before, having taken England to a Six Nations win for the first time in seven years and achieved 10 out of 13 wins for England this season, he has been a great asset to England, and in my eyes was the right man for the job -- to take them forward to 2015. "He was a great man to work with and under and I know that the rest of the team will agree that he will be sorely missed. I wish him all the best in whatever he goes on to do." England's crisis-ridden Rugby Football Union, which has lost a chief executive, a chairman and now the manager of its national all within a matter of months, is now looking to get a successor to Johnson on board in time for the start of the Six Nations in February. The RFU suffered another blow Wednesday when respected former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett ruled himself out of the race for the England job. Northampton boss Jim Mallinder is a 15/8 favourite with British bookmakers William Hill to replace Johnson. Hills have Graham Henry, who stepped down as New Zealand coach after leading the All Blacks to World Cup glory last month, at 9/2. Former Wales coach Henry is due in London next week to coach the Barbarians in their non-cap international against Australia at Twickenham on November 26.