Dean Ryan says selection process for England's next coach has to change

Image: Worcester coach Dean Ryan

Dean Ryan believes that England's selection process is flawed and that questions should be asked regarding the people who are in charge appointing England's next coach.

The search for England's next coach will start in earnest as Stuart Lancaster stepped down "by mutual consent" after taking full responsibility for England's World Cup failure.

Rugby Special: England's future

Stuart Barnes, Dean Ryan and Ali Williams join Alex Payne at 7pm on Thursday on Sky Sports 2 HD...

His departure leaves Australia boss Michael Cheika, New Zealand-born Ireland coach Joe Schmidt and former South Africa boss Jake White among the contenders for the role, but Worcester coach Dean Ryan does not want England to make the same mistakes.

"I want to take a step back on the coaching thing," said Ryan who has also coached Gloucester and been part of the Scotland coaching team.

Stuart Lancaster has resigned as England coach with immediate effect.

"Why are we just going to roll over and allow the same people who made the same decision to set the criteria for the next coach?

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"At what stage do we ask them why they are they qualified to do that?"

"We have gone cycle after cycle and what we want to do is look at the criteria for a successful England management.

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"We have seen a lot of different ones from the Woodward model where we had Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton working underneath him to having both Andy and Brian being spat out the end for not being able to handle the main job.

Lancaster quits England

Stuart Lancaster steps down following England's disappointing World Cup

"So what is the criteria and who sets it?

"My biggest concern is that the people who are doing the interviews have made the same mistakes time and time again."

Best man for the job

Ryan believes that the first thing the RFU need to do is decide what direction they want England to go in. Only after have they identified that, can they go after the best coaching team who can implement that plan.

"We need really qualified people who can define the model we want and what is going to work," explained Ryan.

Image: Will Exeter's Rob Baxter be next in line for England?

"Then we can go and find the best people in the world at it. I have strong beliefs that it should have an English thread but let's understand what we need first and I don't think we do at the moment.

"We can't look at the top of the Premiership and go 'they are doing really well, let's bring their coach in.'

"I think the likes of Rob [Baxter] has been outstanding but let's define what we need first before we suck him up and spit him out the other end."

The contenders?

We look at the contenders who could succeed Stuart Lancaster

Watch Sky Sports 2 HD at 7pm on Thursday night (before Harlequins v Montpellier) for a Rugby Special on England's Future, with Stuart Barnes, Dean Ryan and Ali Williams joining Alex Payne to discuss Lancaster's exit and more.

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