RICHARD Bowker is stepping down as chairman of UK Athletics at the end of this month – having lost the confidence of the home nations’s governing bodies such as scottishathletics, writes Stewart Fisher. The abrasive Bowker, appointed to replace Ed Warner in 2017, quickly put noses out of joint in Scotland, Wales and even at England Athletics by attempting to bolster UK Athletics at their expense. He stepped down rather than face a vote of no confidence from the 12-strong UKA members’ council.
With his legacy also including last year’s Athletics World Cup, which was poorly attended and lost money, there were calls last night for an examination into the sport’s governance going forward. Although Sarah Rowell, a current member of the UKA board and a former Olympic marathon runner will fill the void in the short term, with Niels de Vos also having left the organisation in the autumn, UK Athletics – which receives £27m in lottery funding - currently has neither a permanent chair nor chief executive.“UK Athletics has made significant strides under Richard’s leadership,” a statement said. “The Board is very sorry to see him leave at this time but based on recent decisions while Chair, the progress that will now be made in the areas of talent, competition and coaching will be the real legacy of his tenure.”
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