Boa Begins Search To Fill Clegg’s Role

Following the announcement that former chief executive was leaving the British Olympic Association media reports have speculated that Sir Clive Woodward will emerge as a leading contender as a replacement.

Serving as chef de mission in Beijing, Clegg was expected to remain at the BOA until at least Vancouver 2010 and London 2012. But his abrupt departure has left a vacancy for the role to guide Team GB into the London Games.

The role of chef de mission at an Olympics requires providing leadership to a unified team and helping to create an encouraging environment for athletes and coaches during the Games themselves.

Woodward was the rugby coach of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning team and has been at the BOA since 2006 as the director of elite performance. He has reported plans of building a coaching academy, but the credit crunch resulted in the project’s standstill.

Media sources have reported that he needs £15m between now and 2012 to deliver his programme and the BOA has been seeking ways of raising the funds.