Former GB coach Shane Sutton: There's 'no leadership' at British Cycling any more
ByPA Sport
Updated 19/11/2017 at 10:41 GMT
Former Great Britain technical director Shane Sutton has hit out at a lack of leadership at British Cycling and claimed the so-called medal factory could face a "crisis".
Former Great Britain coach Shane Sutton was back in Manchester with China's national team
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Sutton, who left the programme in April 2016 amid claims of bullying and discrimination, said the turnover of key figures at the top of the organisation threatens the success that has seen Britain dominate at the last three Olympic Games.
"It takes three things," Sutton said. "Good leadership, good coaching and talent. All I can say is two out of three ain't bad.
We've got good coaches, got loads of talent, just no leadership. They're not cycling people leading the programme any more.
"They are still great athletes, loads of talent, and I assembled most of those coaches. It's a great coaching team, just great guys. I know one or two have left but it will be a shame if any more go.
"The evidence says they're the best in the world at what they do and that's why they win so many medals. If they let any more walk out of the door it could become a crisis."
Sutton pointed to the departure of former performance director Sir Dave Brailsford, who left in April 2014 to focus on Team Sky, and British Cycling's chief executive Ian Drake, who walked away in April of this year with the national governing body facing several issues.
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Sir Dave Brailsford, British Cycling Perfromance Director speaks with Head Coach Shane Sutton on day three of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup at Manchester Velodrome on November 3, 2013 in Manchester, England.
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Those included the discrimination claims against Sutton and the anti-doping investigation which closed on Wednesday with no charges being brought against Sir Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky, or British Cycling – although the latter two have come in for strong criticism.
Sutton appears in a documentary, being screened on BBC Two this weekend, in which he says he regarded the therapeutic use exemption system for banned drugs as a legitimate way of finding marginal gains.
Drake, who spent more than 20 years with British Cycling, was replaced by former Football Association group operations director Julie Harrington in May. Earlier this year former Olympic sailor Stephen Park became the first permanent performance director since Brailsford's exit.
"Ian Drake was a great leader, and Dave's hand was forced in the end, but they were great leaders," Sutton said. "Now you've got people leading the programme who are not cycling people."
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Former Great Britain track sprinter Jess Varnish, pictured, made allegations about former technical director Shane Sutton more than a year ago
Image credit: PA Sport
A spokesperson for British Cycling declined to comment on Sutton's remarks when contacted by Press Association Sport.
Sutton's exit from British Cycling was acrimonious to say the least and remains so, with former GB sprinter Jess Varnish taking her case to an employment tribunal earlier this month after accusing Sutton of sex discrimination.
But Sutton claimed he received a wonderful reception when he returned to the Manchester velodrome last weekend in his new role as China's head coach.
"The thing for me is the truth is in the people, and the reception I had and the support I had," he said. "Everybody knows I've put all that behind me and I just want to get out and have some fun.
The reception, it's been unbelievable. It's been quite overwhelming.
The discrimination allegations surrounding Sutton and the anti-doping investigation which dragged on for some 14 months have tainted the enormous success enjoyed by both British Cycling and Team Sky.
However, Sutton is adamant the legacy Brailsford and he left is secure.
"Regardless of all that, Dave B and me have left a legacy," he said. "When you look at bums on bikes now and the profile of the sport, whether or not things go into decline now doesn't matter because I believe our legacy exists here.
"You haven't got a £25million BMX centre being built (at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester) without Dave B being the leader and me being the head coach at the time. Success - people want to invest in it so our legacy remains.
"Dave's goes on with Team Sky. They continue to put bums on bikes and that takes cars off the road and saves the environment. I think our legacy is one of massive magnitude and people don't understand it really."
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