Sir Clive Woodward has criticised Ian Ritchie's claim that it was "unacceptable" for England not to win the Six Nations.
The Rugby Football Union chief executive made the comments on Tuesday after the team finished the tournament in second place for the fourth consecutive year.
Former England captain Will Carling has backed Ritchie's assessment of Stuart Lancaster's side, but Woodward believes that the criticism could have a damaging effect heading into the Rugby World Cup.
"For Ritchie to say finishing second is unacceptable just flattens the mood. It doesn't seem right and is a massive own goal," Woodward, who guided England to World Cup glory in 2003, told the Daily Mail.
"More importantly, his words undermine Stuart Lancaster. I would go as far as to say he has belittled much of the progress that Lancaster and the team have achieved. If this had happened to me, I would be in Ritchie's office demanding an explanation."
England begin their Rugby World Cup campaign on September 18 when they host Fiji at Twickenham Stadium.
