Van Commenee gets UKA coach role

By Matt Slater

Van Commenee is known for his technical skills and frank talking

Charles van Commenee will be confirmed as national head coach of UK Athletics (UKA) next week, BBC Sport understands.

The Dutchman, who coached heptathlete Denise Lewis to Olympic gold in 2000, replaces Dave Collins, who stood down as performance director last month.

Van Commenee, 50, will be charged with reviving the fortunes of Britain's athletes ahead of the London Olympics following a poor showing in Beijing.

Team GB won just four medals, falling short of its target of five.

One of those medals was a gold, won by 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu. Britain's other medallists were triple jumper Phillips Idowu and high jumper Germaine Mason, who both won silver, and 400m hurdler Tasha Danvers, who claimed a surprise bronze.

Van Commenee, who has also coached British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton in the past, has spent the past four years as the performance director for the Dutch Olympic Committee.

He was in the frame the last time the British job was available but ruled himself out of the running after growing frustrated with the length of time it took for UKA to make a decision. The job eventually went to Collins, who succeeded the outgoing Max Jones in March 2005.

Van Commenee, who was the Dutch chef de mission in Beijing, has a good knowledge of British athletics, having worked for the UKA as multi-events director under Jones.

Official confirmation of Van Commenee's new role will come at a press conference near Heathrow airport on Tuesday morning. The search to find a head of coaching development to work alongside him continues.