Charlesworth to step down before Commonwealth Games

Melbourne, June 19 (IANS) Following Australia's World Cup triumph in The Hague, chief coach Ric Charlesworth has decided not to lead the men's hockey team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month.

Charlesworth, who announced in March that he would step down from his role following the Commonwealth Games, has elected to finish his duties ahead of schedule.

"Last Sunday's World Cup final is the best full stop I could wish for in my coaching career. I believe it would be indulgent for me to go to the Commonwealth Games. I have thought about it a lot. The high point of my year was the World Cup. The team will be moving on and it's my personal decision - I don't want to be packing up and away for another three weeks," said Charlesworth in a statement.

The four-time World Cup winning coach will continue to work with the squad over the next four weeks prior to its departure for Glasgow, July 19.

Cam Vale, Hockey Australia chief executive, said: "Ric told me of his intentions after Sunday's final. While I was initially disappointed, his reasoning makes sense and I accepted his decision."

"He has worked tirelessly towards the World Cup goal and deserves the respect of the hockey community to choose this early departure."

"There is a strong belief in our men's high performance program that oversaw such a dominant World Cup performance and I have full confidence in the staff and athletes that we can manage an interim solution towards our very important goal of Commonwealth Games success in Glasgow," Cam Vale said.

An announcement on the coaching structure to take the squad to the Commonwealth Games will be made in the coming days.

The application process to succeed Charlesworth as national coach opened Tuesday and will close July 8. The process is being overseen by a six person panel led by Vale.