CLARK EXITS AT BBF

Mark Clark has quit as British Basketball’s performance director, less than three months before the next stage of GB women’s all-important bid for a 2020 Olympic spot.

The long-time supremo (pictured above, left) is understood to have cited a lack of commitment from all three home nations to the national teams when he handed in his resignation last Wednesday.

The BBF’s other two staff are also to be made redundant, effectively shuttering the previous organisation that was in place before last summer’s coup but also draining the federation of any residual knowledge ahead of EuroBasket Women 2019 in Latvia-Serbia, arguably the most significant tournament involving Great Britain since the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Clark, who previously coached GB Women, had an involvement with international programmes back to 1987 when he first began coaching internationally. Despite acting as a buffer in recent months, he was known to have become increasingly frustrated with the politicking behind the scenes and with the imposition of a request to the GB men’s staff to work without payment during the last international window.

“I want to thank all the National Team staff, the players, their clubs and the Programme Managers, who over the last two years I’ve had the honour to work with,” said Clark in a statement. “They have enabled us to achieve continued success, qualifying for EuroBasket 2017 and EuroBasket Women 2019, and achieving success at age group levels, including two A Division teams.”

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A top six finish for Great Britain at EuroBasket would put them into next year’s Olympic qualifying tournament where 16 sides will chase ten available spots at Tokyo 2020 with hosts, Japan, last week given automatic berths along side World Cup winners, the United States.

Rather than replacing Clark, the BBF will now have a collective approach to the role ahead of the summer, claiming “financial constraints”.

They said: “A BBF Performance Management Group comprising of the Performance Leads from each Home Nation will continue to support the various National Teams for an interim period.

“A number of practical developments both on and off the court must continue to be delivered during an important transition year for GB Basketball, aided by the full and active support of each Home Nation.”

BBF Chair Maurice Watkins said: “On behalf of the BBF, I would like to thank Mark for his tireless work over the last two years and for the part he has played in enabling a number of successes across the sport at the very highest level. His input and commitment during a period of change cannot be understated and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Meanwhile the Sport and Recreation Alliance has announced that Lisa Wainwright – who was forced out as BBF chief executive when the home nations took control –  has been appointed as its new CEO.