• Athletics

Woodward leaves BOA post

ESPN staff
October 4, 2012
Sir Clive Woodward will be linked with a return to rugby © Getty Images
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Sir Clive Woodward has stepped down as director of sport at the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Woodward has spent six years at the organisation and was a key player in the recent London 2012 Games. The BOA is currently undergoing restructuring in the aftermath of the hugely successful Olympics and insidethegames.biz reports that the decision was "entirely amicable".

He confirmed the news in a statement released by the BOA where he outlined his plans for the future. "I have enjoyed being a part of Team GB enormously," Woodward said. "To have been involved in three Olympic Games, Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and especially London 2012, and Chef de Mission for the first Youth Winter Games in Innsbruck this year, has been an amazing experience.

"The challenge of delivering a home Olympic Games to our largest ever Olympic team has been exhilarating and I would like to congratulate everyone concerned on the best Olympic performance of a host nation in the modern Games era.

"Post London 2012 is the right time for me to leave the BOA, which is now taking a new direction following a Home Games and I wish them all well in the future. I will continue to chair the British Judo review panel and I am also delighted to accept a role as a Team GB ambassador, this along with my position on the IOC Entourage Commission means that I will be staying in close contact with the Olympic world.

"I will now be concentrating on my coaching, corporate speaking, media and other business interests."

But the mention of "coaching" will spark rumours of a return to rugby - the sport where he made his name. The World Cup-winning coach was previously linked with performance director role at the Rugby Football Union and with the country hosting a home World Cup in 2015, there is a chance that the organisers of the tournament - England Rugby 2015 - could look to bring him onboard to aid preparations for rugby's global gathering.

ER2015 has already recruited one of the architects of the London 2012 Games in Debbie Jevans who is set to start work as the organisation's new chief executive this month.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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