Martin Johnson has been appointed England's new team manager from July 1 until December 31, 2011.

The World Cup-winning captain of 2003 will have full managerial control of the England team, including the appointment of the coaching and management team as well as player selection.

Brian Ashton will leave his post as head coach. Ashton has been offered a role outside the England senior set-up as head coach of the national academy, working across the England Saxons, U20 and U18 programmes, but has yet to decide whether to accept.

“It is a great honour for me to be offered this position," Johnson said. "I am passionate about the England team and delivering success for it.

"Whilst I cannot take up my position until July 1 for personal reasons I will be working closely with Rob and the England coaching team on selection for the Barbarians match and the New Zealand tour, as well as selecting the first senior elite player squad of 32 under the new agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby.”

Johnson will keep John Wells, Mike Ford and Graham Rowntree, the coaches, in place, while Jim Mallinder, Northampton's director of rugby, has emerged as a favourite to join the coaching team in a senior role.

Rob Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, will fulfil the role of England manager for the match against the Barbarians match at Twickenham on June 1 and for the two Test tour of New Zealand later that month.

“I am delighted Martin is joining the England structure as Team Manager," Andrew said. "He will bring a new and fresh approach to team development and preparation in his own inimitable style. I would also like to thank Brian for the job he has done in difficult circumstances.

"He is an outstanding coach and deserves enormous credit for leading England to a second successive Rugby World Cup final last year and securing the runners-up position in this year’s RBS Six Nations.

“Whilst Brian is naturally disappointed that he will not have a role in the new senior structure, I believe the new post that we have offered him as head coach of the national academy is ideally suited to his special talents and expertise.”

One immediate problem England will face is the loss of captain Phil Vickery, who is unlikely to play again this season after suffering a knee injury during Wasps' Guinness Premiership victory over Sale Sharks on Tuesday night.

Vickery is also likely to miss England's tour of New Zealand, including Tests in Auckland on June 14 and Christchurch seven days later.

The prop's recovery is expected to take about eight weeks.