Dave Collins on the way out

RoyMcC

From The Observer http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/31/olympics2008.britisholympicteam

Pretty harsh in my view. But at least a quick, clean decision has been taken. It allows the new man breathing space to make his changes before the pressure cranks up again.

With the amount of cash ploughed into athletics by UK Sport, under-performance is obviously not an option.

Pherekydes

It's funny, but a bit of luck in the relays and they would have added 3 or 4 more medals.

The replacement, mooted to be Charles van Commenee, will get all the credit for the increase in medals won in future years.

thirtyfoot

Will the AAI follow the pattern now and try get Collins for their slot? Didn't he replace Max Jones when he got the job initially.

Brendan Foster was saying you need people who understand the sport to be in such a position, us track folk really have a thing with "outsiders" don't we:)

helpisontheway

Tingle wrote: »

Will the AAI follow the pattern now and try get Collins for their slot? Didn't he replace Max Jones when he got the job initially.

Brendan Foster was saying you need people who understand the sport to be in such a position, us track folk really have a thing with "outsiders" don't we:)

If hes not good enough for them why should we settle for him! He wont be getting 25million to spend in Ireland thats for sure.:D That dutch fellow Commencee sounds like the real deal,id say he wouldnt take any crap from anyone.Imagine what his reaction to one or two of the beijing performances would have been if he flipped at Sotherton for winning that bronze and not silver.:D

thirtyfoot

De Vos is talking about coaching the coaches and that great systems aren't enough.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article4657155.ece

RoyMcC

Indeed. The feeling is that 'The System' has produced plenty of entry-level coaches, but has chosen to ignore the proven elite coaching expertise that is out there. Maybe van Commenee will give coaching back the respect it deserves and we may see some or all of McNab, Paish, Winch, Ward, Hillier, Longden etc. - or their protegees, back in harness.

It seems to me to be a little different in Ireland with the few top coaches having little to work with. I'd be interested to know what those longer in the sport over here think.

thirtyfoot

RoyMcC wrote: »

It seems to me to be a little different in Ireland with the few top coaches having little to work with. I'd be interested to know what those longer in the sport over here think.

Yes, we have few top coaches and they are under utilised because all our top athletes head overseas - is that because the coaches aren't good enough? Even those that are based here have eventually moved away - Gillick, Cuddihy, O' Rourke (sort of). Our top sprint/hurdles coach, Kilty, has no top end athlete. This is sad when you consider all the athletes he got to elite level. The Harrisons in Limerick of Ryan, Comyns, Coman fame have no top end athletes. I like the coaching the coaches idea. As a young coach I think its important to have a mentor if you like, to bounce things off them and learn from the many mistakes they have made so you don't repeat. I know a crew of promising coaches were brought by the AAI to the world indoors in Spain this season as a means of progressing them and getting exposure. There is a lot of knowledge out there being untapped. I read before that when the Gormanstown Camps were in full swing that an impromptu "coaches workshop" would always take place where ideas and theories would be discussed and bandied about. As far as I see there are few national event coaches, maybe that could be a start.

Dr Watson

When I think of sprints coaches in Ireland I think of Paddy Fay, the Harrisons, Jim Mr Kidd and Bill Kelly.

Across the water the perceivedbetter coaches have decent winter training facilities (including S&C services) and in my opinion you are surrounded by a better class of athlete, all focused on the same goals.