Whitaker resigns as Great Britain coach

David Whitaker, coach of the Great Britain Olympic squad, yesterday resigned less than two months away from their first game in Atlanta. Whitaker, who led Britain to the Olympic bronze medal in Los Angeles and then gold in Seoul before leaving teaching to go into the communications business, returned in April 1993 to take Britain to Atlanta.

There was no hiding the disappointment of Richard Dodds, Britain's captain in Seoul, at a press conference at Bisham Abbey yesterday. He said: "David's business has grown enormously in recent months and he feels unable to give the attention required to continue.''

Dodds announced that Jon Copp, the Reading coach who has been assistant coach to Whitaker, had taken over and would be assisted by James Duthie. Dodds acknowledged the enormous contribution Whitaker had made to the British game, adding: "We believe this decision to be in the best interests of Great Britain in the build-up to Atlanta.''

Jason Laslett, Great Britain's captain, said that the players were surprised when told but he did not expect any radical change. The loss of Whitaker is a serious setback for Britain's medal hopes. Copp and Duthie have been part of the coaching set-up for the past year, but they are relatively inexperienced.

Whitaker was yesterday unavailable for comment.

The British women's team, who are also going to Atlanta, snatched a 1- 1 draw when Jane Sixsmith scored with only 15 seconds remaining in their second game against Argentina at Lilleshall yesterday. A depleted British side went a goal down a minute before the interval when Sofia Mackenzie gave Argentina the lead from a fiercely struck penalty corner.

A series second-half saves by Jo Thompson kept Britain in the game until Tina Cullen beat three Argentinians in midfield before her delayed pass found Sixsmith for the equaliser.

GREAT BRITAIN: J Thompson (Ipswich); J Atkins (Bradford Swithenbank, capt); J Mould (Balsam Leicester), K Johnson (Balsam Leicester), L Cope (Balsam Leicester); P Robertson (Grove), M Davies ( Sutton Canada Life), C Cook (Hightown); J Sixsmith (Sutton Canada Life), R Simpson (Edinburgh), T Cullen (Hightown). Substitutes used: M Nicholls (Slough) and Y Williams (Hightown).

ARGENTINA: M Arnal; S Mackenzie; S Corvalon, M Aicega, L I Aymar; G Sanchez (capt), A Gambero, J Rimoldi; K Masotta, V Oneto, C Rognoni. Substitutes used: G Pando, J Castellan and O Gonzalez.

Umpires: I Muldowney (Eng) and L Crespo (Arg).