Edwards in frame to lead 2012 boxers

Published on Saturday 4 October 2008 11:05

TERRY EDWARDS' hopes of being kept on as head of the British Olympic boxing team for 2012 have been given a major boost.

Funding body UK Sport has agreed to fund the sport through the revamped British Amateur Boxing Association, chaired by former Sport England chairman Derek Mapp.

Edwards was also praised for his team's efforts in Beijing where a gold and two bronzes made it British boxing's best Games since 1956.

John Steele, chief executive of UK Sport, said: "Terry Edwards and the team did a fantastic job in Beijing and they deserve to have the chance to move forward under the best possible high performance structure.

"Under Derek Mapp, BABA will provide a fresh start in terms of the way the sport is run.

"It brings a level of certainty for those that are part of the current structure, and a chance for everyone to get behind one of our strong medal prospect sports for 2012."

It will ultimately be down to Mapp to make the final decision on the coaching set-up but it would be a major surprise now if Edwards was not part of it.

Edwards was the target of criticism from within amateur boxing during the Games after Frankie Gavin failed to make his weight, but the medal successes proved a telling answer to his critics.