While Sir Clive Woodward was promising to tell all and give the reasons for his resignation in the next few days, the two men who preceded him as England coach said they were astonished at his abrupt departure.

Jack Rowell, now director of rugby at Bath, and Dick Best, now a commentator and involved in sports management, said they both doubted whether Woodward's relations with some senior figures in the game and the issue of access to his players would have been enough to make him leave the job.

"I was surprised if not shocked," said Rowell, who was replaced by Woodward seven years ago.

"There have been one or two hiccups since the World Cup but in the overall scheme of things it was looking very healthy and something for Clive to look forward to."

Rowell said he did not "buy into" the view that Woodward had finally tired of arguments with the clubs' representatives, and in particular with Howard Thomas, the Premier Rugby chief executive, about when England players would be available and when they should rest.

"I have been involved and don't think there was any hesitation this year in making the players available," said Rowell.

"No one ever doubted, following the World Cup season, that Clive would, rightly, get the players and I don't remember seeing any 'anti' to that at all.

"He has negotiated these things before and, as far as I was concerned, it has become a way of life."

Best, who was replaced by Rowell after the former Harlequin had coached England to 14 wins in 17 matches, also doubted whether squabbles over the timing of training camps would be enough to persuade Woodward to hand in his notice.

"We all know the team is fading. If any more go, we are in trouble," said Best. "When he took over it [England] was in the same state that it is now.

"I can understand that with a new squad he obviously needs to have more time with them to bring them up to speed but the difference of four days a year, or whatever it is, is neither here nor there."

Best believes England cannot afford to wait until after the autumn internationals before they replace Woodward and that the clock is already ticking to the 2007 World Cup in France. Against that, though, Rowell believes the next England coach has time on his side and will benefit from the structure and financial support that Woodward demanded.

"He got his feet under the table, didn't he?" said Rowell. "But that's Clive, he's a very positive guy. Clive got the support. There were doubters but it was pushed through and the resources were made available."

Meanwhile Woodward's arch-rival in European rugby, the France coach Bernard Laporte, was quick to pay electronic tribute to the England coach.

"It's a great loss. Our sport needs people like him," said Laporte on the Midi Olympique rugby website.

Laporte, who became national coach following the 1999 World Cup, made his professional respect for Woodward clear last October when he refused to enter any sort of slanging match in the tense run-up to the crucial World Cup semi-final when England eliminated France 24-7 en route to beating Australia in the final.

"I have a lot of respect for the English team, especially Clive Woodward," he said at the time.

"Woodward has led England to become one of the best teams in the world, and maybe the best team in the world, through a very professional set-up. He deserves respect."