Dave Collins to pay price for GB's poor track showing in Beijing

Dave Collins, performance director of UK Athletics, is expected to learn today that his contract has been terminated.

He is expected to be replaced by Charles van Commenee, a tough-talking Dutchman with experience of coaching elite British athletes.

It is thought that Collins has paid the price for a disappointing Beijing Olympics for the British track and field team, who won only four medals. Van Commenee has worked in the UK with heptathletes Denise Lewis and Kelly Sotherton and was the popular choice to be the performance director for the Athens Olympics in 2004. He moved back to Holland when he was not offered the job.

After finishing sixth in the 100-metres hurdles at the Aviva British Grand Prix meeting in Gateshead, Sotherton said: "Charles is a great coach. He knows how to get results. He is very tough and and I think people will get a very rude awakening."

Van Commenee's appointment will not be confirmed until after the Paralympics and he will probably be called head coach rather than performance director.