The 41-year-old, who won 84 caps as a player and captained his country to World Cup glory in 2003, called time on his three-and-a-half-year tenure ahead of tomorrow’s Professional Game Board review into the events that lead to England’s exit.

A number of off-field problems beset England before and after the quarter-final defeat to France, equalling their joint worst performance in the competition in 1999 and 1987.

With Johnson’s contract up in December, rumours were already circulating about possible replacements, with New Zealand’s World Cup winning coach Graham Henry among the favourites to succeed the two-time Heineken Cup winner.

Northampton coach Jim Mallinder, who has mentored England regulars Chris Ashton and Dylan Hartley at Franklin’s Gardens, has already thrown his hat into the ring for the top job.

he future of the 2011 RBS 6 Nations champions’ backroom staff, comprising of forwards coach John Wells, defence coach Mike Ford, scrum coach Graham Rowntree and attack coach Brian Smith is also up in the air.