Mike Catt has urged Rob Andrew to bring in a new crop of young coaches if England are to get the best out of their “golden generation”.

Andrew, the Rugby Football Union’s elite rugby director, has been holding talks with World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson over the newly-created role of England team manager.

The RFU management board has also approved the appointment of a new specialist coach, with the likes of Shaun Edwards and Austin Healey both linked with the post.

And with the likes of Danny Cipriani, Shane Geraghty and James Haskell blazing a trail on the international stage, Catt, who was critical of current coach Brian Ashton’s management during last year’s World Cup, believes England must fill the management team with stars of the recent past.

“This is as good a generation of young players as I have seen and it’s in key positions as well,” he said

“The future is very, very good. I can see Shane starting outside Danny, who is very instinctive and you can base a team around him.

“If you get the right guys around him who want to play the way he plays then guys like Paul Sackey, the try scorers, will see more of the ball.

“It’s going to take time and they have to be managed properly. That’s a big issue at the moment.

“It’s vital you have people who are respected but also people that technically know what’s going on.”

England already have Graham Rowntree on board as forwards coach, while Johnson retired in 2005, Healey in 2006 and former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio quits this summer.

Despite their varying levels of coaching experience - Rowntree has the most after being part of the World Cup management team - they all boast a close understanding of the modern rugby player and the modern game.

“A lot of young guys now, barring the likes Danny Cipriani and Shane Geraghty, are structured players who you need to tell what to do,” said Catt.

“They’re not instinctive players any more. That’s where guys who have just finished playing the game understand a hell of a lot more than the more senior coaches on how and where to run.

“There’s a lot of technical analysis now. The game has moved on massively.”

Catt has ambitions to be involved in the England set-up himself one day but admitted he has yet to decide whether this will be his last season as a player.

“I’ve got to make a decision over the next couple of weeks as to what I do,” said Catt.

“I would love to be involved in the England set-up at some stage. That is my ultimate goal when I go into full-time coaching, like it is for a lot of people.

“But I have got to earn my stripes somewhere and London Irish has given me a great stepping stone.

“Working under guys like Brian Smith and Toby Booth means I’m on the right track.

“Technically, I am pretty much up there with all the people who know how to play the game it’s now about the man management and getting your point across, which is vital.

“I’d definitely like to stay at London Irish. There are a lot of young guys that I would like to try and take on to the next level.

“There is still a lot to get from guys like Delon and Topsy and Paul Hodgson. I would like to continue to work with them.”

If Catt helps Irish to victory over Perpignan in Satuday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at the Madejski Stadium, the Exiles could set up a semi-final at Twickenham against either Toulouse or Cardiff.