Charles van Commenee falls on own sword

Posted on September 12, 2012 by adminsports

Athletics chief Van Commenee fell on his own sword after pre-Games attitude

UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 11 September 2012

If ever a man was going to be hoist by his own petard it was Charles van Commenee, the braggadocio Dutchman who leaves our shores as a qualified failure.

He is standing down from his position as head coach of UK Athletics having not met his target for the Olympics of eight medals, including one gold. The return of six, including four golds, was nothing like a disaster — indeed it included unforgettable moments — but it ultimately made his position untenable.

‘If I hold athletes and coaches accountable every day, how could I work over the next four years if I am not held accountable myself’ he said before the Games. ‘It’s a no-brainer.’

Stepping down: Charles van Commenee is falling on his own sword

So, true to his word, he is going, with a replacement due to be unveiled on Thursday. Kevin Tyler, the Canadian who is UKA’s strategic head of coaching, is favourite to take over.

He joined UKA as part of the restructuring that saw Van Commenee brought in after Great Britain won just four medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Tyler is not universally popular within the sport, being seen by some as a poor communicator.

But while Van Commenee logically had to leave as a self-defined flunker, even though he was offered an extension to his contract by UKA chief executive Neils de Vos, it is understood that his mind was made up before the medals were counted.

The reasons for that, revealed by high level figures in Olympic sport on Tuesday, are that he was fed up of fights within the sport and of dealing with a higher level of scrutiny than he had expected.

It reveals him as a more vulnerable figure than his outrageous, headline-making soundbites would have us believe.

Row: Van Commenee embarassed himself over the Phillips Idowu issue

He had lost the enthusiasm to stay for another five years — the offer was to take the team not just to Rio but to the 2017 World Championships in London as well.

If the disparate nature of the athletics structure, which, for example, saw Jessica Ennis train with her lifelong coach Toni Minichiello in Sheffield rather than under his nose in London, was the most frustrating aspect of the job, his public falling out with truculent triple jumper Phillips Idowu was the most memorable feud.

Van Commenee handled it with unbelievable naivety. His attempt to make up with Idowu in front of the whole team at the airport lounge in Korea made him look foolish when his outstretched hand was rejected by the seated athlete.

Van Commenee was not as cocksure when faced by press criticism as you might expect of a man who rightly dismantled the ‘excuse culture’ that had blighted recent British teams and called those who blamed injuries and injuries ‘w*****s and pussies’.

Logic: Van Commenee had to leave his role

Indeed, he was remarkably thin-skinned about Sportsmail questioning his policy of selecting athletes who were born and developed abroad.

Van Commenee, 54, is sure to be in demand, even if he has to take a cut on a salary of around 250,000. He goes with a mixed report. His opinionated style was fresh. He refused to endorse or, crucially, fund slackers and plodders. He altered the mood music, and that was important.

But with Mo Farah based in America, Ennis in the north and a host of hurdlers based in Bath, what tangible results did he deliver

Well, one of his key appointments, the American Dan Pfaff, coached Greg Rutherford to long jump gold on Super Saturday. Pfaff, though, is now returning to the States.

Ultimately, two more medals than in Beijing was not such a stunning achievement for 25million of investment that Van Commenee must stay.

As you said Charles, my old friend, no excuses.

Charles van Commenee quits UK athletics role

Posted on September 11, 2012 by adminsports

Van Commenee quits UK Athletics role after failing to meet Olympics targets

UPDATED:

15:09 GMT, 11 September 2012

Britain's athletes will have to start the road to Rio in 2016 with a new head coach after it was confirmed that Charles van Commenee has decided to quit his job as head of UK Athletics.

The 54-year-old Dutchman has returned from holiday without any change of heart over his future.

UK Athletics are now expected to announce a new leadership team next week after formally confirming his departure.

I'm out: Charles van Commenee will leave his post as head coach after returning from holiday

Van Commenee had set a target of eight track and field medals in London, to include at least one gold, and had stated publicly before the Games that he would resign as a matter of 'credibility' if Britain's athletes fell short.

In the event there were four gold medals with long jumper Greg Rutherford joining Jessica Ennis and double winner Mo Farah.

But there were only two other medallists, and some hot favourites failed to deliver – notably triple jumper Phillips Idowu who flopped terribly, failing to even reach the final of his event after a long-running feud with the Dutchman.

Van Commenee offered his resignation immediately after the games, but was persuaded by UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos to go away and think about the decision.

Underachievement: Despite a hugely successful Games, the likes of Phillips Idowu failed to deliver

Van Commenee has been a controversial figure throughout nearly four years in his post.

His demanding approach to setting standards for athletes has caused friction, and there have also been rows over decisions to recruit athletes who took advantage of dual nationality in a bid to add to the team's medal potential.

He tried to ban them from using
social media in the run up to the games, one of the areas that deepened
the fall out with Idowu.

And his insistence that no athlete
should blame injuries for poor results, designed to deal with what he
saw as a soft underbelly to the country's athletics, created more
friction.

Those who blamed their failures on injury or illness he branded 'w****** and pussies'.

What about us Jessica Ennis (above) and Mo Farah (below) delivered gold medals in their events

His argument to those who didn't like his approach was that it worked. He had coached Denise Lewis to heptathlon gold in 2000.

And he wasted no time in marking his mark after taking over, sacking several long serving coaches and bringing in his own team.

He said his regime could be summed up as 'high expectations and no excuses.'

His decision to quit means he will stay true to be judged by his own standards.

Charles van Commenee to quit

Posted on September 11, 2012 by adminsports

Van Commenee standing firm on quit stance after failing to meet his targets

UPDATED:

01:51 GMT, 11 September 2012

Britain's athletes will have to start the road to Rio in 2016 with a new head coach after Charles van Commenee decided to go ahead with his decision to quit his job.

Reports on Monday night said the 54-year-old Dutchman had returned from holiday without any change of heart over his future.

And UK Athletics are expected to announce a new leadership team next week once they have formally confirmed his departure.

I'm out: Charles van Commenee will leave his post as head coach after returning from holiday

In the event there were four gold medals with long jumper Greg Rutherford joining Jessica Ennis and double winner Mo Farah.

Van Commenee offered his resignation immediately after the games, but was persuaded by UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos to go away and think about the decision.

Underachievement: Despite a hugely successful Games, the likes of Phillips Idowu failed to deliver

When he returned a new contract offer was waiting for him, but sources say that a break in the Caribbean had only hardened his decision to step down.

He will leave when his current contract expires at the end of December. Van Commenee has been a controversial figure throughout nearly four years in his post.