Alan Thompson steps down as Australia head coach

Sydney: Alan Thompson has stepped down as head coach of the Australian swimming team, leaving the country without a coach two years ahead of the London Olympics.

Thompson resigned from his roles as head coach and General Manager of High Performance because national governing body Swimming Australia (SA) had decided to separate the positions as part of a restructure, he said in a statement. "I do not agree with the way the national head coach and high performance unit has now been structured by Swimming Australia, and I still believe the best way forward was for the roles to remain as one something which has certainly proved successful," Thompson said. "I have certainly enjoyed my many years on the Australian swim team in a role as head coach and I wish the team and the new head coach every success, because you will never work with a better group of people in your life." Thompson took leave from his job in December after a claim of "inappropriate behaviour" against him was reported to Swimming Australia by an anonymous source through local media.The claim is under investigation. "The acceptance of the redundancy is not related to the independent investigation being conducted by Louise Donohoe SC," a representative of Thompson said in a statement. SA reiterated that Thompson, head coach since 2005 and high performance manager since 2006, had left because of the restructure. "Swimming is a sport that prides itself on professionalism, hard work and success, and to continue to maintain and develop those values at all levels, we believe this new structure is the best way forward," SA CEO Kevin Neil told the statement. Thompson would now pursue business interests, the statement said, adding that Leigh Nugent had been appointed acting head coach, while David Crocker had taken the role as acting high performance manager. Bureau Report