Former England prop Jeff Probyn has called for Martin Johnson's coaching set-up to be overhauled and for Steve Borthwick to be stripped of the captaincy.
On reviewing England's Six Nations campaigns where they went from finishing second in 2009 to finishing third in 2010 Probyn has demanded changes to bring the best out of a promising generation of young players.
"I don't think it's time for Johnson to go - I think it's time for his coaches to go," Probyn told BBC Sport.
"When Borthwick is captain his game goes down and the team goes down too."
England put in their best performance of the Six Nations against France on the weekend and Borthwick was missing as he was injured.
Probyn, who won 37 England caps between 1988 and 1993 says that he wants big changes in the England coaching set up after England only won two of their five matches and were widely criticized for playing unimaginative rugby
The Rugby World Cup is now 18 months away and Johnson has until then to put things right with England. England's Director of Rugby Rob Andrew has also come under fire by former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio.
"England's performance was poor throughout the Six Nations," said Probyn.
"We lacked structure in the gameplans. We didn't seem to have much idea of where we were going.
"We relied too heavily on some tactics that were out of date and outmoded and our kicking game was poor."
After the November internationals England were also criticized for playing poorly and Johnson gave his full backing for coaches John Wells (forwards), Brian Smith (attack), Mike Ford (defence) and Graham Rowntree (scrum).
Probyn has now also laid the blame on Johnson's assistants and said, "There's nothing wrong with the players,"
"They are playing week in week out with their clubs, playing a different style of rugby and an exciting style of rugby. he said.
"It can only be the coaching they are receiving at international level." he added.
"Johnson has got to start making the decisions a manager has to make and if that means some of your friends have got to go, they've got to go."
Probyn said that he would Northampton Saints coaches Jim Mallinder and Dorian West brought in to assist Johnson as they won their fourth trophy in three seasons on Sunday when Saints beat Gloucester in the LV= Cup final on Sunday.
However despite Probyn's calls for change former England coach Dick Best says that he thinks the Rugby Football Union (RFU) will not make any changes so close to a World Cup but says that Johnson's long-term successor should be identified and brought up through the ranks.
Best also says that he feels it was a mistake to appoint Johnson in 2008 who at the time had no coaching experience.
After losing to France Johnson's record now stands at eight wins from 19 Tests.
"We've got to be grooming the next person to take over and we don't seem to be doing that," Best told BBC Sport.
"We don't want a situation where we are just plucking someone out of the air like Johnson was and watching him learn on the hoof."
England now face a daunting trip to Australia and New Zealand where they have only beaten the Wallabies twice in history - both in 2003.
On tour England face the Wallabies twice and the New Zealand Maoris before their November series against Australia, Samoa, world champions South Africa and New Zealand.
Probyn also wants Borthwick to be removed as England captain after the team seemed more focused and dynamic under flanker Lewis Moody style of leadership against France.
"The unfortunate thing for Borthwick is that he's never played well as a captain.
"The tempo was better under Moody, there was none of this finger-wagging at referees and calling for yellow and red cards."
"That was a feature of Borthwick's captaincy, which is not the sort of thing you expect an England captain to do.
"I'd probably go for Moody in the short term until one of the other players holds up their hands."
The RFU will hold a review of the national team set-up in July, after Francis Baron steps down as chief executive.
Former British and Irish Lions coach (1993) Best says that Baron's departure could open the door for the return of Sir Clive Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach.
"Whoever comes in needs to be someone who has more of a hands-on role with the rugby," he said.
"Somebody like Clive coming in as the top dog would be all right in my book."
