London2012legacythreatenedbyUKcoachingshortageBritain'shopesoffinishingfourthinthemedalstableattheLondon2012Olympicscouldbeunderminedbyalackofprofessionalcoaching,areportpublishedbyasportsthinktankrevealedyesterday
Theresearch,carriedoutbyLoughboroughUniversityandchairedbyformer1,500mworldrecordholderSteveCram,saysthesportinglegacyleftbytheGamescouldbeinjeopardyunless250,000full-andpart-timecoachingjobsarecreated
Whilehigh-profilesportssuchassoccerareturningtoforeigncoachesatbothnationalandclublevel,Crambelievesthelackofhomegrowncoachesinallsportsmustbeaddressed
"Thereporthighlightsthatunlesswecanbreakthecultureof'gentlemanamateurism'inUKsport,wewillstruggletobecomebestintheworld,"Cramsaid
"Aslongaswecontinuetorelyonanarmyofgrassrootsvolunteers,withnoclearcareerprogressionforhomegrowncoach