UK Athletics head coach, Charles van Commenee

BBC

Charles van Commenee is to step down as UK Athletics head coach after the team failed to meet his medal target at the 2012 Olympics in London.

UK Athletics says he will leave when his contract expires in December, reports the BBC.

Dutchman Van Commenee, 54, set a target of at least eight medals at London 2012, including one gold, but the team fell two short.

In a statement, he said his job needed "new energy and approach" through to the World Championships in 2017.

UKA chief executive Niels de Vos said: "Charles has done an excellent job preparing British Athletics for the 2012 Olympic Games.

"There is no doubt Charles has helped to transform our culture and we can now look forward to further success under the leadership of a new team."

Van Commenee added: "Niels and I have worked hard to implement accountability as it is vital to the culture of elite sport. My decision has the interests of British athletics at it's heart in sustaining this culture."

Van Commenee was appointed head coach in 2009, his second stint in British athletics, following a disappointing showing at the 2008 Games, in which the team fell short of their target and won just one gold medal.

With his direct and tough-talking manner, he was charged with reviving British athletics and ensuring athletes thrived at a home Games.