Dallaglio was one of those openly critical of Ashton

The Rugby Football Union will discuss at a meeting on Wednesday imposing a post-tournament cooling-off period.

Ashton has been criticised by Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt for his management style during the World Cup, despite England reaching the final.

"I think it is absolutely disgraceful," said RFU chairman Martyn Thomas.

Interview: Ex England head coach Andy Robinson

Interview: Players' chief Damian Hopley

"This has tarnished a great achievement. If we are honest, the players, the coaches, everyone delivered far above any expectations that we had before going into the Rugby World Cup.

"There is a commercial interest in the timing of it. A week after England's achievement this stuff is being peddled.

"Any clause we introduce will cover major tours and tournaments, but within the confines of the law. We can't become censors. We have freedom of speech," he told the Daily Telegraph.

When England won the World Cup in 2003, head coach Sir Clive Woodward had player columns and interviews closely monitored and he banned the publication of tour diaries or autobiographies until six months after the Lions tour in 2005.

606: DEBATE Dallaglio seems to have lost the sense of what is right and wrong for his country STB

Dallaglio and Catt, who criticised Ashton in their autobiographies, could yet be disciplined under RFU regulations if it is proved the books contained statements prejudicial to the interests of the Union or the game.

Ashton's predecessor as England coach, Andy Robinson, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's important that it all stays in camp, that you focus on what you're going to say and it's no-holds barred.

"All players and coaches are going to make mistakes at times, you want to be able to do that and say what you need to say without it being reported on."

Robinson's view was echoed by Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan, who coaches Dallaglio at club level.

"It was Lawrence's call - I don't know what's been going on," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"As far as I'm concerned it should be sorted out internally. I've always operated that way in the past and would hope to do so in the future. If you're directly involved, that's the way to do it."

Although Ashton's position as coach is under review, one man who is supporting the beleaguered head coach is captain Phil Vickery.

They knew what they were doing when they took Lawrence with them Former England hooker Steve Thompson on his ex-team-mate

"From my perspective Brian Ashton and the coaches worked their arses off to get things right. So did the players," Vickery told The Times.

"We did have issues and some of Lawrence's points are very valid, but at the same time we have to remember there is a book to sell.

"Brian is always going to have his critics but a line has to be drawn. Sometimes people step over it. I feel very, very sorry for Brian with some of the things that have been said.

"He has always had the best interests of the country at heart. Yes we know there were some issues behind the scenes. We did have a meeting to sort out bits and pieces. We said what we felt.

"I am sure Brian will look back and admit mistakes were made and would agree that things could and maybe should have been done differently. I am sure he has asked himself, 'Would I or should I have done this or that?'"

Former England hooker Steve Thompson said that he was not surprised a strong character like Dallaglio spoke out.

"I think everyone's got to have their say," Thompson, a team-mate of Dallaglio and Catt's in the 2003 World Cup-winning side, told BBC Radio Northampton.

"They knew what they were doing when they took Lawrence with them. I think he shouldn't have gone, they should have taken Haskell anyway.

"It is right to let people have their say, if things aren't right, they aren't right. Sometimes they get sorted out because people speak out."