Radcliffe Sr lands key role

Peter Radcliffe, father of Paula, will head up the body charged with restructuring athletics in England.

Radcliffe will chair England Athletics 2005, an interim organisation which will establish a new governing body for the sport in 2006.

England Athletics will replace the Amateur Athletic Association of England, formerly the AAA.

Sport England, which distributes lottery funding, has demanded the sport make radical changes to its structure.

A review by Sir Andrew Foster expressed fears that political infighting was holding the sport back.

Foster backed the appointment of Radcliffe to the post.

"Peter has a mixture of both corporate and sport experience that will play a key role in developing a body fit to deliver and boost participation and success in athletics across England," he said.

Radcliffe's most recent role was human resources director for Interbrew UK, but he is also the chairman of his daughter's club Bedford and County Athletic Club.

Jack Bucknor, project director for the implementation of Foster's recommendations, said Radcliffe's family ties had little to do with his appointment.

"Having somebody who is a club chair and who is a former HR director is critical," he said.

"There is a third element which, to me, is the least important - the fact that his daughter runs a bit."

Under the planned new structure, England Athletics will take responsibility for regional development, while UK Athletics will oversee elite performance.