Martyn Thomas has officially stepped down as acting chief executive from the Rugby Football Union with immediate effect.

Thomas was initially expected to leave his post on December 16, however the former employee of the RFU has decided to resign earlier than planned.

Chief operating officer Stephen Brown is scheduled to take over from Thomas on a temporary basis.

"Stephen has increasingly taken over the day to day running of the RFU since I announced on November 2 that I would not be renewing my contract after December 16," Thomas said in a statement.

"He has demonstrated in the time that he has been at the RFU that he is immensely capable and this has been underlined once again in the last few weeks."

The search for a new England coach is ongoing following the departure of Martin Johnson a fortnight ago.