Rob Andrew will be given time to find his feet at Twickenham as he prepares to enter English rugby's testing political arena.
Andrew saw off strong challenges from England's World Cup winning-supremo Sir Clive Woodward and ex-Lions coach Ian McGeechan to become the Rugby Football Union's first elite rugby director.
The former England fly-half, who will receive a reputed £300,000 annual salary, starts work on September 1 after an 11-year reign as rugby director with Guinness Premiership club Newcastle.
High on 43-year-old Andrew's agenda will be forging a healthy relationship between the new elite department and top clubs, although his job description covers all England representative teams. That includes the senior side, national and regional academies, elite referees, sports science and medicine.
The Premiership clubs have been engaged in a long, bitter struggle withTwickenham top brass about the elite professional game.
Andrew though, will not be thrown straight in at the deep end when he arrives at English rugby headquarters.
``We identified 25 parameters to assess all the candidates against, so you can't identify one individual thing that sets Rob Andrew apart from anyone else,'' said RFU chief executive Francis Baron.
``Relations with the clubs was one of the elements in the 25 parameters, but there are a whole range things that had to be assessed. It was not appointed solely on that issue.
``He needs a wide range of skills because it is a very big job, and of course, a better relationship with the clubs will help.
``We won't pitchfork Rob straight into negotiations with the clubs.
``This is a long-term job. The job is to get in place the right structures for the 2011 World Cup - it is not about producing a magic wand to help in 2007. The dye is already cast for 2007.''
Baron, part of a four-man panel that appointed Andrew, revealed interviews had taken place in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to find the right man.
``I was determined to get the best guy available from around the world,'' he added.
``The head-hunters interviewed 17 people from around the world, including
England, and Rob Andrew was the one who came through.
``We had three excellent candidates on the final shortlist, and there was not much between them.
``Clive was on the shortlist, and it went right to the wire. Clive is an enormously talented individual, and difficult decisions had to be taken, but that is the nature of life.
``I know Clive very well. We worked together for six years, we had some great times together and some not so great times together, and I have nothing but massive respect for him.
``We had a selection process that judged the candidates over a range of issues. It was always going to be close - it was always going to be a narrow win.''
Andrew will be a key figure in trying to turn around England's fortunes leading towards next year's World Cup defence, working with head coach Andy Robinson and his new support staff of Brian Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have appointed their academy boss John Fletcher as Andrew's Kingston Park successor.