Gardener to become next president of UK Athletics

Gardener, who won 4x100m relay gold at Athens 2004, will take over from Lynn Davies in December and will relinquish his current role as a director on the UK Athletics board.

Gardener has plenty of experience at the highest level of the sport having won relay silver and bronze at the World Championships in 1999 and 2005 as well as being crowned 60m indoor world champion in 2004.

And he says he is relishing the challenge as the UK's athletes build towards Rio 2016 and the World Championships in London in 2017.

"I am extremely honoured to be offered this role, but more importantly to follow in the footsteps of Lynn, who has served the sport in exemplary fashion over the years," said Gardener.

"This is an exciting time for our sport as we build towards the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and our own London World Athletics Championships in 2017 and it is essential that the UK Members Council continues to represent the sport's interests and ensure the accountability of UK Athletics.

"I am incredibly fortunate to have been able to wear the British vest on so many occasions and now to be able to serve athletics in this way – I really am delighted."

As well as a new role for Gardener there is also a fresh appointment for 110m hurdle star Lawrence Clarke who has been nominated as an Athlete Representative on the UKMC.

Clarke finished fourth at London 2012 as well as being chosen as team captain for this year's European Indoor Championships in Prague and says he is excited at the prospect of representing his peers.

"I feel privileged to be able to represent the views and opinions of the athletes who make up the British team," he said. "I'm keen to make sure the sport's future is positively shaped for and by athletes across the Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes.

"I'm immensely grateful to the Council for appointing me to a role that I hope will have a positive effect on the sport as a whole, from the grassroots to the podium." © Sportsbeat 2015