Van Commenee confirmed as British athletics head coach

Dutchman Charles van Commenee was this morning confirmed as the new head coach of British athletics through to the 2012 London Olympics.

Van Commenee, 50, replaces Dave Collins after UK Athletics opted to scrap the role of performance director in favour of a more hands-on coaching position.

UKA chief executive Niels de Vos believes the redefined role will provide Britain's athletes with the best coaching support leading into London 2012, when the demands and expectations of success on home soil will be high.

Great Britain fell one short of their target of five medals at the Beijing Olympics.

De Vos explained: "Performance director is just too broad and wide a role in a sport as complex as athletics. Dave did a very good job at putting systems in place, but, at the end of the day, systems do not win you medals."

Van Commenee is familiar with British athletics, having coached Denise Lewis to heptathlon Olympic gold in 2000 and Kelly Sotherton to bronze in Athens four years ago.

He had been a contender for the UKA's now defunct performance director role four years ago but withdrew his application to take up a similar role with the Dutch Olympic Committee.

Van Commenee's astute management skills - and famed no-nonsense approach - helped Holland return from Beijing with their second biggest ever medal haul.

De Vos added this morning: "This is a day that puts coaching back at the top of the agenda."