UK Athletics chairman Chris Clark won’t resign over Zara Hyde Peters mess

UK Athletics chairman Chris Clark has no intention of standing down from his post in the ongoing crisis at the governing body.

Clark backed Zara Hyde Peters, who yesterday was axed just days before beginning as chief executive, as the right person for the role despite reports her husband had continued coaching at the club where she was vice-chairman despite a teaching ban for an “inappropriate relationship” with a 15-year-old girl.

But yesterday he backtracked following an emergency board meeting and Hyde Peters will no longer be taking up the post.

Clark is reportedly keen to run the clean-up operation and has the backing of the board as well as leading figures in the sport, including Toni Minichiello, the former coach of Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Minichiello said: “Many of the problems that have come to light since Chris took up the post date back a number of years. I believe he is the right man to deliver the necessary reforms.”

UK Sport chief Sally Munday and chair Katherine Grainger have been in dialogue with UKA since news broke of Mike Peters’ past and continuing to oversee athletes at Coventry Godiva Harriers — some under the age of 18 — without a DBS [disclosure and barring service] check.

UKA will continue their own review despite Hyde Peters not taking up the role, which will also put the spotlight on welfare leader David Brown over his handling of the situation.

UKA will begin the search for a new chief, including revisiting previously shortlisted candidates as well as spreading the net wider for a different external appointment.

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