‘Entirely my decision’: Aths boss quits months out from Olympics
Athletics Australia chief executive Darren Gocher has quit months out from the Olympics and ahead of the merger of the sport with Little Athletics.
Gocher, who has been CEO for three years, will work through until the end of April.
He insists the decision to resign was his and he was not pushed out the door.
Outgoing Athletics Australia CEO Darren Gocher.Credit:Getty Images
“It was entirely my decision. Ahead of the merger [of Athletics Australia and Little Athletics] in October I thought it was important they had someone who could see that through for several years and it would be better to have someone come in with fresh ideas,” Gocher said.
“There is never a good time to go in athletics.”
Athletics is in a state of flux, with head coach Christian Malcolm quitting his post only months ago to take a job with British Athletics.
The sport restructured and did not replace him with a new head coach but brought in the sport’s great Sally Pearson to oversee hurdles and sprint coaching. Former swimming champion Liesel Jones joined in an athlete wellbeing role and highly successful running coach Nic Bideau joined to oversee distance and middle-distance running. Andrew Faichney also became head of high performance.
The domestic season has been devastated by COVID-19, with the tour events pushed back to March when they will compete for air time with the dominant, all-consuming football codes AFL and NRL.
Sydney is poised to be confirmed as the location for the national titles in April this year. The late timing of the titles ensures they have to be staged in a warmer northern climate.
Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specialising in AFL and athletics.