Brian Ashton is likely to consider his next move today after being dumped as England head coach.
While 2003 World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson prepares to take what the Rugby Football Union describe as ''full managerial control'', Ashton begins life as an ex-head coach.
And he must decide whether to take up the RFU's offer of a post as national academy boss - effectively his old job - or leave Twickenham instead.
The latter option looks likely, especially given the dreadful way he has been treated by RFU top brass while they publicly courted Johnson.
And the 61-year-old has found an ally in former England hooker Brian Moore.
Moore, a qualified solicitor, said: ''What has happened to Ashton is illegal. It is the clearest constructive dismissal I have ever seen.
''Irrespective of that, you don't do this to people. You don't treat your top man like this.
''How can they offer him another job? What could be of equal rank to the head coach?
''You go from being the top man to being coach of the academy - I don't think so.''
Ashton's exit as head coach comes just four months after he was re-appointed by Rob Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, following a two-month review into
the World Cup.
Ashton had guided England into the final, despite taking charge only 10 months earlier when Andy Robinson departed on the back of eight defeats in nine Tests.
Johnson, meanwhile, has agreed a three-and-a-half year deal as team manager, thought to be worth around £900,000.
He will officially take up his post on July 1, the day a new pioneering eight-year agreement between the RFU and Guinness Premiership clubs begins.
Johnson will not to travel to New Zealand for England's two Tests against the All Blacks in June because his wife Kay will be in the latter stages of
pregnancy.
Andrew, on whose recommendation Johnson has been appointed, is to carry out team manager duties for that trip, plus England's June 1 clash with the
Barbarians at Twickenham.
Existing England coaches John Wells (forwards) and Mike Ford (defence) remain in their posts. They will be joined in New Zealand by scrummaging specialist
Graham Rowntree and kicking coach Jon Callard.
Johnson said: ''It is a great honour for me to be offered this position.
''I am passionate about the England team and delivering success for it.
''While 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.
''This will be as well as selecting the first senior elite player squad of 32 under the new agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby.''
RFU chief executive Francis Baron added: ''Martin Johnson's appointment will greatly strengthen the England team management and coaching structure.
''Martin has the freedom and the budget to recruit additional coaching resource, and make other changes to the England set-up to build a team that will
consistently challenge for the major international tournaments.''
Johnson has not been involved in front-line rugby since he retired from playing in 2005, carving out a lucrative media and corporate career instead.
As a player, he won the World Cup, landed a Six Nations Grand Slam and enjoyed regular European and domestic success with his club Leicester, but his new post should prove by some distance the most challenging he has faced.
England's record under Ashton.
Played 22, won 12, lost 10.
2007: Scotland (h) won 42-20, Italy (h) won 20-7, Ireland (a) lost 43-13, France (h) won 26-18, Wales (a) lost 27-18, South Africa (a) lost 58-10, South Africa (a) lost 55-22, Wales (h) won 62-5, France (h) lost 21-15, France (a) lost 22-9.
2007 World Cup: USA (Lens) won 28-10, South Africa (Paris) lost 36-0, Samoa (Nantes) won 44-22, Tonga (Paris) won 36-20, Australia (Marseille) won 12-10, France (Paris) won 14-9, South Africa (Paris) lost 15-6.
2008: Wales (h) lost 26-19, Italy (a) won 23-19, France (a) won 24-13), Scotland (a) lost 15-9, Ireland (h) won 33-10.
Points scored: 485.
Points conceded. 475.
Tries scored: 41.
Tries conceded: 41.
Biggest win: 62-5 versus Wales.
Biggest defeat: 58-10 versus South Africa.
Against individual countries
Wales - played 3, won 1, lost 2.
Scotland - played 2, won 1, lost 1.
Ireland - played 2, won 1, lost 1.
France - played 5, won 3, lost 2.
Italy - played 2, won 2, lost 0.
South Africa - played 4, won 0, lost 4.
Australia - played 1, won 1, lost 0.
Samoa - played 1, won 1, lost 0.
Tonga - played 1, won 1, lost 0.
USA - played 1, won 1, lost 0.
Here PA Sport Rugby Union Correspondent Andrew Baldock looks at the ups and downs in Ashton's career as England boss.
HIGHS
England 26 France 18 (Twickenham, March 11, 2007)
England delivered arguably the most complete performance of Ashton's 22-Test reign, producing some scintillating rugby in a gripping RBS 6 Nations encounter notable for thrilling contributions by young backs Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty.
England 12 Australia 10 (Marseille, October 6, 2007)
England repeated their 2003 World Cup triumph over Australia, only this time at the quarter-final stage and after the Wallabies started as firm favourites. England's forwards - notably props Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery - demolished a feeble Australian scrum, and Jonny Wilkinson's goalkicking did the rest.
England 14 France 9 (Paris, October 13, 2007)
Barely a month after losing 36-0 to pool stage opponents South Africa, England reached their second successive World Cup final after tactically dominating the host nation. Wing Josh Lewsey scored an early opportunist try, then Wilkinson and the pack saw Ashton's men home.
England 33 Ireland 10 (Twickenham, March 15, 2008)
At the time, few people could have imagined England's 2008 Six Nations finale would be Ashton's last Test in charge. Appropriate then, that he bowed out with his team, inspired by fly-half prodigy Danny Cipriani, playing trademark Ashton rugby of high skill, adventure and attacking courage.
LOWS
Ireland 43 England 13 (Dublin, February 24, 2007)
England croaked on their first visit to the imposing Croke Park, battered by an Irish side far quicker in thought and deed. Jason Robinson was a late withdrawal for the visitors - David Strettle made a try-scoring Test debut - but England were smashed in every critical area of the contest.
South Africa 36 England 0 (Paris, September 14, 2007)
England's hopes of a successful World Cup defence appeared fanciful in the extreme after the Springboks inflicted a humiliating defeat on them at Stade de France. England were rudderless, clueless and an embarrassment. Thirty six days later, they appeared in the final.
England 19 Wales 26 (Twickenham, February 2, 2008)
England launched their Six Nations campaign with a blistering opening against Wales, running their opponents ragged during the first-half - then the wheels came off. Wales trailed 19-6 well inside the third quarter, but promptly scored 20 unanswered points in 13 minutes to claim a first Twickenham victory since 1988.
Scotland 15 England 9 (Murrayfield, March 8, 2008)
If England had played some high-class rugby in losing to Wales, their Calcutta Cup display at Murrayfield proved the polar opposite, Poor conditions didn't help, yet England were abysmal against an average Scottish side, kicking dreadfully and failing to produce a meaningful attack. It was probably the worst game in Six Nations history.