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Clive Woodward’s ambition to forge a career in football management appears to be over after Southampton confirmed he has stepped down from his full-time role at the club. England‘s rugby World Cup-winning coach, whose position has been under fierce scrutiny since new chairman Michael Wilde was voted in at St Mary‘s, has quit his role as technical support director but will continue to help the club in a consultancy role.

Woodward, 50, was a controversial appointment as technical director by previous chairman Rupert Lowe in August last year and made no secret of his desire to go into full-time management. But soon after his arrival he was forced to deny constant reports of a rift with then manager Harry Redknapp, and he became increasingly marginalised when one of his own appointments, Simon Clifford, acrimoniously departed as head of sports science.

Upon George Burley‘s unveiling as Redknapps‘s replacement, Lowe named Woodward director of football and he was credited as the brains behind the club‘s impressive new training facilities on the outskirts of the city. But when Lowe was removed as chairman this summer following a lengthy boardroom battle, Wilde redefined Woodward‘s role and changed his title to technical support director.

Woodward appeared to be on borrowed time, having blasted the group of directors on Lowe‘s board who had sold shares to strengthen Wilde‘s bid for power. He also missed out on a return to rugby earlier this month when the Rugby Football Union overlooked him for the key elite director of rugby role in favour of Rob Andrew. But he has now agreed a financial package with Saints and quit the club after just 13 colourful months in football.