Clive Woodward is pleased for Stuart Lancaster but has questioned the timing of the new contract announcement © Getty Images

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World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has questioned the Rugby Football Union's decision to award the England management new contracts in the run-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

In his column for the Daily Mail, Woodward praises the work Lancaster has done since he took over in 2012 but has questioned the timing of the announcement. Woodward points to his own situation in 2003 when he signed a new contract prior to the World Cup but no official release was made until after they had won the competition amid fears it could distract the team.

Woodward fears the announcement "could diminish the team's hunger and fear factor". He wrote: "All of England's coaches are thoroughly professional and those who know them best will testify that their determination and drive will be a safeguard against complacency. But I am talking about the potential for the smallest of subconscious slips - and equally importantly, the smallest of fillips for the opposition."

He added: "On Wednesday we learned that the England coaching team will also prepare the team for the 2019 World Cup. We didn't need to know that. No-one should be thinking that far ahead. Let's deal with 2015 first!"

Woodward predicts Lancaster could eventually end up in a director of rugby role within the RFU with Andy Farrell taking on the head coach position. "I hope I am wrong about the RFU's hasty announcement," Woodward said. "I want nothing more than for Lancaster's England to win the World Cup next year. Then we can debate whether he should keep going until 2019 or to move upstairs and let Farrell take over. But I fear Wednesday may have weakened England, even by the tiniest amount."