Mark English splits with coach

pconn062

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/mark-english-looking-for-new-coach-after-amicable-split-with-mcdaid-30341026.html

He has left McDaid, it was an amicable decision apparently. Timing seems a little unusual, this close to the Europeans and all. Wonder who will he be seeking to take over?

Chivito550

pconn062 wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/mark-english-looking-for-new-coach-after-amicable-split-with-mcdaid-30341026.html

He has left McDaid, it was an amicable decision apparently. Timing seems a little unusual, this close to the Europeans and all. Wonder who will he be seeking to take over?

Very very odd timing indeed.

pconn062

Chivito550 wrote: »

Very very odd timing indeed.

Any inside scoops with your media contacts?

Chivito550

pconn062 wrote: »

Any inside scoops with your media contacts?

This is the first I have heard of it.

ecoli

Logistically I can see the reasoning given his college commitments in Dublin coupled with summer race season travel. I wouldn't worry about the timing as Mark has a good head on his shoulders and a setup around him over the last number of years that I would be surprised if this transition period dramatically changes his performances.

"I need to make sure that I find a coach who understands the principle I'm coming from on the speed side of it"

This for me is the most telling point. I think this phrase dramatically narrows the field with regards Irish coaches and think there are probably less than a handful of Irish coaches who would be in the running and most likely will look abroad.

Oregano_State

I watched this post-race interview with him from Oordegem last week, and thought the bit at the end about his coaching situation sounded a bit odd, but I hadn't realised it was news. Seems the Indo were a bit late to the jump!

ecoli wrote: »

"I need to make sure that I find a coach who understands the principle I'm coming from on the speed side of it"

This for me is the most telling point. I think this phrase dramatically narrows the field with regards Irish coaches and think there are probably less than a handful of Irish coaches who would be in the running and most likely will look abroad.

I think you're completely right Luke. He is very much a speed-based guy, and I have read 2 or 3 interviews with him where he specifically mentions that he really hates running loads of miles. That wouldn't fit in with the approach of many middle-distance coaches in Ireland so I would think that you're probably right in that he'll most likely have to look abroad, although how that will fit in with his studies is another issue.

As a separate point, if he does manage to meet his target of being a 1:43.xx guy by summer's end, would he be able to continue progressing from there while trying to juggle training with studying once September rolls around?

dna_leri

Oregano_State wrote: »

As a separate point, if he does manage to meet his target of being a 1:43.xx guy by summer's end, would he be able to continue progressing from there while trying to juggle training with studying once September rolls around?

If he has a good summer, I would not be surprised if he took some time off to concentrate on athletics as Paul Hession did at a similar stage.