In the article about appointing the new england coach they say the new guy will '...work with the elite squad to develop a four-year plan to produce 30 world-class players for the World Cup in 2013...' ?!?!?!?!

What planet do these people come from? UK Athletics had ear-marked their 2012 team well before the 2008 olympics, realising that the 2012 team were well and truly in the system already. What do they expect the new guy to do? Take a country that has at best 4 truly world class players and somehow churn out thirty in under four years?! We will never win anything with these short-term charlies in charge. I dont deny that there are players such as Tomkins, Briscoe and Eastmond etc that im sure could be put into the 'World Class' category by 2013 but to set such non-sensical targets is madness. How many decent coaches are going to read that and think, 'ooh, they sound like an organisation with their heads screwed on. I'd like to work for them'
That statement should read:

'...work with the elite squad to develop a eight-year plan to produce 30 world-class players for the World Cup in 2017...'

Who are our 4 world class players? Apart from Ellis and maybe Burgess I can't think of anyone else! And also it would be an 8 year plan to 2017!

haha, edited for mathematical accuracy!

I included Peacock and Morley, perhaps though more appropriately 'ex-world class'

Fox...............












I'll get my coat