Simon Halliday has written off his chances of becoming part of the England management team because his face doesn't fit.
Former England centre rules out joining Brian Ashton
Simon Halliday has written off his chances of becoming part of the England management team because his face doesn't fit.
The former England and Bath centre seems ideally placed to fill the post to assist Brian Ashton with the running of the national side.
However, despite an impressive CV from his playing days, behind the scenes since retiring and away in the world of business, the 47-year-old knows that "it is not going to happen".
Halliday was capped 23 times by England - playing a pivotal role as the side won back-to-back Five Nations titles and reached the 1991 World Cup final - before working behind the scenes as a long-time member of the Rugby Football Union council and Club England.
Halliday, who is back at Bath as a non-executive director, has also proved a success away from rugby, having gone on to become a director with the bankers Lehman Brothers.
But all this is unlikely to have the RFU falling over themselves to make the call to Halliday - despite assurances that Ashton can name his own man.
Halliday told
The Guardian: "Baron [Francis Baron, the RFU's chief executive] wouldn't want it.
"He has a very clear view on who he regards as an acceptable candidate and he wouldn't want someone like me who asks questions."
Halliday has a 'history' with the RFU having kicked up a fuss after the appointment of Andy Robinson as Sir Clive Woodward's replacement.
Halliday, who as part of the Club England panel involved in the selection process, explained: "Woodward had left and the performance director had gone some time earlier.
Presentation
"It was very clear that Andy was keen on taking up a role and I asked him what did he think that role was. He said he wanted Woodward's job and I said to him, 'No you don't. What you want is your job'.
"Andy was a coach and a good one - after all he coached a World Cup-winning side. Woodward was the manager. I told Andy that what he needed was a manager and that was something he had to put into his job presentation."
Robinson was duly appointed by the RFU, but according to Halliday, he was told to "stick with what he had".
Halliday continued: "Andy came back to me and I said, 'That's a joke, you might as well resign now'.
"As it is, we all know what happened to Andy and I know he feels he should have done something.
"Mind you, at the time I made a fuss and upset the management board - and not before time - but was ignored. That's part of being part of Club England: it makes recommendations which are largely ignored."
