Michael Cavanagh will lead Scotland to 2014

Michael Cavanagh will lead Scotland into the Glasgow Commonwealth Games of 2014, having been nominated unopposed for a second term as chair of the country's governing body.

The former wrestler, whose public profile soared in the troubled run-up to last year's Delhi Games, will be re-elected at the annual general meeting of Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) on 26 May.

Having won a contest with judo official Rick Kenney to become chairman in November 2007, Cavanagh sees the fact he will not face opposition this time as a vote of confidence in his performance over the past four years.

"It's entirely open to any of our members to nominate anyone they think is appropriate," he said. "In this case I'm quite pleased that I'm the only candidate. I see that as a vindication. I think I've done a fairly good job. It has been quite a challenge over the last four years, but it has been really exciting, too."

The toughest task for Cavanagh in his first term had to be in those weeks before Delhi, when the standard of athletes' accommodation led to the Scottish team delaying their departure for the Indian capital. Cavanagh's decision to go public with his concerns was criticised in some quarters because of the perceived risk of a split between the affluent and developing nations within the Commonwealth, but he is convinced he took the correct course of action.

He said: "That's the one thing I'm sure we got 100 per cent right. Had we not stuck our heads above the parapet, I don't think there would have been enough of a sense of urgency in India to get things done.

"The Indian government finally realised how bad things had become because they'd left them in the hands of the wrong people for too long. They, and the Delhi government, did a great job when they finally stepped in. To do what they did in a week was pretty remarkable. It's just a shame that the people running the thing didn't realise that. It's sad in many ways, because India is a fantastic country with wonderful people. Sporting-wise, once it finally started, everybody made it work. But it could have been so much better."

As a member of the Glasgow 2014 board of directors, Cavanagh will share responsibility for ensuring that the games in his home city avoid the pitfalls which dogged Delhi, and help restore the image of the event. "I have no doubt whatsoever that Glasgow is going to put on an amazing Commonwealth Games - and we need an amazing Commonwealth Games," the 52-year-old said.

"We'd have done it anyway. It was always going to be great. But, after Delhi, there's a feeling that Glasgow has the opportunity not only to get it back on track, but to move it on."

Scotland exceeded their own medal target in India, but there will be pressure on them to do even better at home. That in turn will mean pressure from some of the 17 individual sports to be allowed a bigger team. "Athletics have already made it plain informally that they would like us to take a slightly different approach to selection for 2014. They understand that we've imposed tough criteria and that performances have got better, but they would like us to recognise that 2014, as a home games, is a bit different. Not just to open the gates and say if you're the best in Scotland you can be in the team, but somewhere between the two.

"I'm happy to relax things a little bit. If athletics want to propose that we use 2014 to blood younger athletes who are potential medallists in 2018 or 22, I think we're up for that discussion. But it can't be just about a one-off in the stadium at Hampden. I think there's a case to give people Games experience - if we believe they're going to be there in 2018."