Jessica Ennis's coach Toni Minichiello interested in becoming the head coach of UK Athletics Van Commenee was recruited in 2008 from the Dutch Olympic Committee while Eriksson is a Swedish-born Canadian citizen. "British coaching is excellent," Minichiello said. I coached someone from 11 years of age through to an Olympic gold medal in Britain, having experienced the whole gamut of being a volunteer coach working full- time, then part-time and then being fortunate enough to become a professional coach. If I can do it, then anyone can do it in Britain and you don't have to look beyond these shores because it can be achieved. It just needs support for the coaches. It's not about moving athletes to some uber-expert. It's about supporting coaches to allow the coach to grow with the athlete and move forwards. Like Van Commenee, Minichiello's multi-events background gives him the advantage of an all-round knowledge of throws, jumps and sprints, though his reputation for being outspoken is likely to count against him. He now operates outside the UK Athletics system after rejecting the offer of a reduced consultancy package instead of a full-time job and parted company with the governing body with a public attack on the "bullying culture" during Van Commenee's reign. Minichiello would also have to juggle any leadership role with his work as Ennis's coach and is likely to be resistant to any reduction in the amount of time he spends with the Sheffield-based athlete. De Vos insisted that it was too early to discuss potential candidates and side-stepped a suggestion that Van Commenee might be tempted to return from his prolonged post-Olympic break from athletics. "We haven't even started the process yet," De Vos said. He added that performance director Neil Black would take over head coach duties in the interim and would lead the British team at the World Championships. "It's clearly a blow to us, precisely because Peter has done such a good job moving things on since the London Games," De Vos said. At least the very strong foundations he, alongside Neil Black and the rest of us, has helped build means we can enter the coming season with undimmed confidence. Eriksson, who will leave after the European Team Championships in Gateshead at the end of June, said: "Words cannot describe how disappointed I am to take this step. There is no bigger job in athletics anywhere in the world. At present I have no plans but accept that if I am to take any other job in sport it will be a step down. Athletics in Great Britain receives the best possible support through the National Lottery and that, coupled with the performance structure here, means it is every coach's dream to hold this position.