 Johnson walks onto the pitch for his testimonial match in 2005 |
England and Leicester legend Martin Johnson has had talks with his old club over a return in a management capacity. The 36-year-old led England to the 2003 World Cup but has taken a step back from direct involvement in the sport since his May 2005 retirement.
"I've had chats with him and he'll tell us when he's ready," club president Roy Jackson told the Daily Mail.
"I'm certain he'll be involved in the management of the playing side, but in what guise and when remain to be seen."
Johnson has been involved in promoting rugby union, backing Japan's unsuccessful bid to host the 2011 World Cup and charity work since retiring.
 | Until Pat decides otherwise, there will be no discussions with any other parties Tigers head of rugby operations Simon Cohen |
Leicester's recent history has seen a host of former playing greats return as coaches, with the current line-up of Neil Back, Richard Cockerill and Pat Howard following in the tradition of John Wells and Dean Richards. They are one of the few Premiership clubs without a director of rugby and the future of head coach Howard, persuaded to stay for another year after originally planning to return to Australia, remains unclear.
Tigers' head of rugby operations Simon Cohen sought to play down the prospects of Johnson returning in the near future.
"Pat is in charge of the playing side of the club and we are all very pleased with the job he and Richard Cockerill are doing," he said.
"Until Pat decides otherwise, there will be no discussions with any other parties."
But Jackson said he was "confident it will just be a matter of when". "He is incredibly busy, with a very full diary," he added. "We are not putting the club on hold for him but we do believe he has a very important role to play.
"Martin has proved himself to be a great motivator and his track record speaks for itself.
"He has not been involved in management before and, yes, he is inexperienced. But so were Dean Richards and John Wells, both of whom were incredibly successful."
Johnson joined Leicester in 1989 and, apart from one season in New Zealand, spent his whole career with the club.
Appointed club captain in 1997, Johnson led the team to a Pilkington Cup victory, four successive Premiership titles and back-to-back Heineken Cup triumphs.
He won 84 caps for England and is the only player in history to captain the Lions twice. His rugby union exploits also earned him an MBE and a CBE.
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Martin's track record speaks for itself