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| Catt backs Richards for England | Catt backs Richards for England |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| World Cup-winning centre Mike Catt believes Dean Richards should replace Andy Robinson as England's head coach. | World Cup-winning centre Mike Catt believes Dean Richards should replace Andy Robinson as England's head coach. |
| The England international says the Harlequins boss, who guided Leicester to two European and four Premiership titles, should become team manager. | The England international says the Harlequins boss, who guided Leicester to two European and four Premiership titles, should become team manager. |
| "With his record he is probably the best guy," Catt told BBC London. "He did an exceptional job at Leicester. | "With his record he is probably the best guy," Catt told BBC London. "He did an exceptional job at Leicester. |
| "I would let Brian Ashton and the other coaches run the on-field stuff and let Dean manage off-the-field matters." | "I would let Brian Ashton and the other coaches run the on-field stuff and let Dean manage off-the-field matters." |
| Interview: England international Mike Catt | Interview: England international Mike Catt |
| Richards, 43, won 48 caps for England and six British and Lions caps as well as making 314 appearances for Leicester. | Richards, 43, won 48 caps for England and six British and Lions caps as well as making 314 appearances for Leicester. |
| The number eight moved into management at Welford Road and led Leicester to four consecutive domestic league titles (1999-2002) as well to back-to-back victories in the Heineken Cup (2001 and 2002). | The number eight moved into management at Welford Road and led Leicester to four consecutive domestic league titles (1999-2002) as well to back-to-back victories in the Heineken Cup (2001 and 2002). |
| Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team Former England coach Jeff Probyn | Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team Former England coach Jeff Probyn |
| But after 23 years as a player and coach, Richards was sacked in February 2004 after a dip in results. | But after 23 years as a player and coach, Richards was sacked in February 2004 after a dip in results. |
| He moved to French side Grenoble for a season before joining Harlequins in 2005 following their relegation to Division One and guided them back to the Premiership in his first season. | He moved to French side Grenoble for a season before joining Harlequins in 2005 following their relegation to Division One and guided them back to the Premiership in his first season. |
| And former England prop Jeff Probyn says Richards is the ideal man for the job. | And former England prop Jeff Probyn says Richards is the ideal man for the job. |
| "England need a manager, not a head coach," said Probyn. "The argument is what is a head coach? It was a title invented by Sir Clive Woodward who never really coached anyone. | "England need a manager, not a head coach," said Probyn. "The argument is what is a head coach? It was a title invented by Sir Clive Woodward who never really coached anyone. |
| "Dean Richards should be appointed England manager. | "Dean Richards should be appointed England manager. |
| "For the England team you want the best man for the job and that's Dean. He has a proven track record of working with John Wells (England forwards coach). | "For the England team you want the best man for the job and that's Dean. He has a proven track record of working with John Wells (England forwards coach). |
| "Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team. | "Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team. |
| "He's respected by all the players, all of the management and clubs and wants what's best for England." | "He's respected by all the players, all of the management and clubs and wants what's best for England." |
| Richards, along with former England skipper Martin Johnson, New Zealander Warren Gatland and South African Nick Mallett, have all been linked with the role following Robinson's departure on Wednesday. | Richards, along with former England skipper Martin Johnson, New Zealander Warren Gatland and South African Nick Mallett, have all been linked with the role following Robinson's departure on Wednesday. |
| 606 DEBATE: Do you agree with Catt? | |
| But Catt, who is in England's Elite Player Squad and toured Australia in the summer, says the new man must English. | But Catt, who is in England's Elite Player Squad and toured Australia in the summer, says the new man must English. |
| "I would not like to see a foreigner come in," he added. | "I would not like to see a foreigner come in," he added. |
| "Warren Gatland is a fantastic coach and has done fantastic things with Wasps but I do believe England have good enough managers and coaches to stick to their own. | "Warren Gatland is a fantastic coach and has done fantastic things with Wasps but I do believe England have good enough managers and coaches to stick to their own. |
| "They don't need outside influences." | "They don't need outside influences." |
| And Catt, currently playing some of his best rugby with London Irish, says that the Rugby Football Union should utilise the knowledge and experience of England's World Cup winning squad. | And Catt, currently playing some of his best rugby with London Irish, says that the Rugby Football Union should utilise the knowledge and experience of England's World Cup winning squad. |
| "There is a lot of experience and talent that has come through England ranks that has not been tapped into yet," he said. | "There is a lot of experience and talent that has come through England ranks that has not been tapped into yet," he said. |
| Catt plays down World Cup hopes | Catt plays down World Cup hopes |
| "They do need to get some players involved although I am not sure how they would go about doing that. | "They do need to get some players involved although I am not sure how they would go about doing that. |
| "People like Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and myself were all very good players but what are we like coaching? | "People like Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and myself were all very good players but what are we like coaching? |
| "We don't know that until we have experienced it. | "We don't know that until we have experienced it. |
| "It is the same with Martin Johnson. He has a lot of respect, which is a start, but at the end of the day if you are not very good at what you do you soon get found out." | "It is the same with Martin Johnson. He has a lot of respect, which is a start, but at the end of the day if you are not very good at what you do you soon get found out." |