Shakespear takes centre stage

English sport?s latest foreign signing might come from Australia ? but at least her name has a firm place in English tradition.

Wilma Shakespear, a former Australian netball international, was given one of the most important jobs in English sport today as she was appointed head of the English Institute of Sport (EIS).

She joins the growing ranks of coaches from abroad who have been given the task of turning English sport around. While it is hoped appointments like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Duncan Fletcher will inspire a new generation of home grown talent, their success has sparked a sea of change in the way sport is run in this country.

Shakespear, who doesn?t start her new job until December, will join the EIS from the highly regarded Queensland Academy of Sport which she founded. Prior to that she was manager of the elite sports programme at the Australian Institute of Sport and a key figure in the transformation of Australian sport over the last decade.

The 58-year-old will be responsible for the day to day running of the £120m EIS whose network of sports facilities and medical and sports science centres across the country will be up and running by next October.

Former 1500 metres World Champion Steve Cram, who is now chairman of the EIS, said: ?She has an enviable track record in elite sport and a broad range of experience as a coach, competitor and teacher.