Rugby Football Union chairman Paul Murphy has criticised attempts from the grassroots game to hound acting chief executive Martyn Thomas out of office.

Murphy, Oxfordshire’s outgoing RFU representative and Abingdon RFC president, was joined by RFU president Willie Wildash in condemning the move.

Leicestershire club Market Bosworth RFC have called for a special general meeting to vote on a motion that Thomas should resign from all executive and non-executive roles.

For such a meeting to be called, Market Bosworth’s proposal requires the signatures of 100 of the RFU’s member clubs.

Murphy said: “It is obviously very disappointing that some council members have seen fit to propose an SGM with the sole purpose of removing Martyn Thomas from office.

“There can be no hiding away from the fact that those council members have put a personal matter above the greater good of the RFU and failed to recognise their collective responsibility that Martyn has won two votes of no confidence by a sizeable margin.

“At the AGM in July, Martyn stood down as chairman, but rightly retained his other roles as he is highly valued by the international rugby community.

“The day to day operation of the RFU is not in a mess nor is it dysfunctional and we are all determined to look forward to the future opportunities of Rugby World Cup 2015.

“Sadly it is a small section of the rugby community that are looking backwards.”