Steele: Has come out fighting

He also insists the door is still open for Sir Clive Woodward to become performance director.

Steele attracted fierce criticism for his handling of the appointment process for the role, with Woodward committing himself to his current position with the British Olympic Association after the job description was twice altered with regards to involvement with the England team and manager Martin Johnson.

Steele would not be drawn on any talks with the World Cup-winning coach, but insisted he will continue to seek "the right person".

"I can't discuss individuals and originally there was a statement made that (Woodward) hadn't applied," he told the Daily Telegraph. "If he has now ruled himself out, that is for Clive to do.

"The process became about individuals and not the role, because in all the noise we lost what this was about. It is not about individuals, rugby is bigger than any individual and that is what we have to bear in mind.

"We don't want to close the door on anyone. We want to make sure that we get the right person. This is about getting clarity on one small part of what has been the discussion: the relationship between the role and the senior England team. Once we have had that discussion, we will look again to identify when and how we put in the right person.

"The face of the senior England team is Martin Johnson. The performance director role is actually behind the scenes. Compared to most, it is an unglamorous role. Ninety-five percent of this role is about talent identification and development, a production line of English talent for the future. What we can't have is what we had after 2003 - one great squad goes and there is nothing behind it."

Former RFU chairman Fran Cotton was a particularly vociferous opponent of Steele, claiming his removal was the only solution to the turmoil and adding: "If it's a choice between John Steele as chief executive or Clive Woodward as performance director, it's a no-brainer."

Steele remains defiant, though, and said: "I will get criticised but actually, that won't deflect me from what I have got to achieve. I am absolutely committed to achieving the change that we need.

"Yes, there has been this bump in the road but it doesn't mean that what we put in place in terms of our plans for the future isn't still as valid as it was six months ago. In fact, that last six months have shown me even more the need for change. We need to work differently and I have been brought in to drive that change, and that is exactly what I will do."