Andrew must quit - Vickery

Former England captain Phil Vickery believes under-fire Rugby Football Union chief Rob Andrew must resign.

Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, has come under increasing pressure from outside Twickenham to quit his post. The 48-year-old has refused to step down, however, despite admitting English rugby had hit "rock bottom" as the fall-out of a disappointing World Cup campaign continues to rumble on.

England manager Martin Johnson and attack coach Brian Smith have already resigned and Vickery believes Andrew must now follow, telling the Daily Star Sunday: "Rob has finally bowed to the pressure of accepting his responsibility for the professional game in England."

He added: "For the last few years, he has just sat there and said nothing. Does he want people to feel sorry for him? He is in charge of this and has to go.

"Andrew has spent five years at the RFU and been through three head coaches - English rugby is in tatters.

"We have finally established what he does and it is not a huge amount."

Vickery also accused Andrew of failing to support Johnson during the troubled World Cup campaign in New Zealand, which ended with a quarter-final defeat to France.

"Rob was there all the time apart from the first 10 days and we didn't hear a single thing from him through the whole World Cup," he said.

"Martin Johnson needed help but got none at all. Andrew did nothing for him whatsoever."