Martin Corry has thrown his support behind England legend Martin Johnson to lift England's flagging spirits as a possible future national team manager.

Corry, himself a former England captain, believes the 2003 World Cup-winning skipper would be the ideal choice as manager after a disappointing Six Nations campaign under head coach Brian Ashton.

With Ashton's future as coach under scrutiny, Johnson will reportedly meet RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew in the next two days.

That could lead to his appointment in time for England's two end-of-season Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

"Johnno has got to be involved because he has all the qualities you want in a rugby leader," Corry told the Daily Mail.

"He has an aura about him: he knows the game [and] he makes the right calls."

Corry said Johnson could be the missing link to help Ashton get England back on course.

"There has to be an obvious leader overseeing the whole structure," added Corry.

"That's probably what has been lacking and what Brian has been looking for, someone to be at the top to co-ordinate the whole thing while he gets on with coaching."

Sporting Life / Eurosport