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Shane Sutton: I'm confident I'll be invited back to my roleShane Sutton (picture source Team Sky 2013).jpg

Shane Sutton: I'm confident I'll be invited back to my role

British Cycling board said to be split on decision to take him back if he's cleared of wrongdoing...
by Sarah Barth
Sun, Oct 23, 2016 10:29
14

Shane Sutton has said he is ‘confident’ he will be cleared of wrongdoing and returned to his position as technical director at British Cycling, as the organisation works to expand its staff with a performance director and a new chief executive.

Current CEO Ian Drake is to leave the organisation in April, and the former Team GB rider Sara Symington is a hot tip for the performance director role.

But opinion is divided on whether Sutton should be invited back, after a string of accusations about his behaviour from top-level athletes, including Jess Varnish, who says he told her to “go and have a baby”.

Sutton resigned in April over the furore, but told the Telegraph: “I’d like to think they would ask me to reconsider my resignation. I resigned when I did to take the heat off the team 100 days out from the Olympic Games. But I totally refute the claims.”

He has some support in the organisation; this summer we reported how Sir Bradley Wiggins said that he was still in touch with Sutton.

“Selfishly, from a personal point of view, we [the men’s endurance squad] had nothing to do with Shane since he took the sort of blazer office job,” Wiggins said. “He wasn't around in the track centre any more. And the day it all happened, when it all hit the fan, we went to the US for a month and missed the whole mass hysteria phase.

“When we came back it was all about new bikes and it had all blown over that storm. So from a team pursuit point of view we haven’t really noticed it – he was here one day and out the next - but it's been noticed higher up the chain. The office is quieter now.”

“I’ve had a couple of texts from him. Shane was the first to text me and say ‘I’m still concerned about this from a performance point of view.’ Or ‘You’ve got to get Burkey [Steven Burke] out of the pub’.

"Just wanting to know how the group's going, or when we were in America how the training camp had gone. I think at the heart of it all he still loves the performance stuff really and I guess that was his downfall, going up the chain.

“His greatest asset was coaching and I think everyone has said that. He’s the best coach in the world probably.”

The board is understood to be split over whether to invite Sutton back should he be cleared.

Shane Sutton
British Cycling
ian drake
Jess Varnish
Bradley Wiggins

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14 comments

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
2 likes

Not sure that was worth losing your ass over.

Avatar
Jimnm replied to tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
0 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Not sure that was worth losing your ass over.

agreed 3 

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
4 likes

Aye, sound advice for women everywhere. When your boss or someone in position of power over you tells you to go have a baby or other sexist remark, just tell them to 'go fuck off'. 

 

Sorts everything. May even get a pay rise.

 

I say we put Jimnm in charge, of everything. Actually, I done you a favour Jimnm and emailed your suggestion to the Fawcett Society while letting them know you're up for sorting out women's rights.

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/policy-research-categories/womens-right...

 

I'm sure they'll be in touch. 

Avatar
Jimnm replied to tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
0 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Aye, sound advice for women everywhere. When your boss or someone in position of power over you tells you to go have a baby or other sexist remark, just tell them to 'go fuck off'. 

 

Sorts everything. May even get a pay rise.

 

I say we put Jimnm in charge, of everything. Actually, I done you a favour Jimnm and emailed your suggestion to the Fawcett Society while letting them know you're up for sorting out women's rights.

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/policy-research-categories/womens-right...

 

I'm sure they'll be in touch. 

can't wait! I'll just tell em to go have a baby n they can tell me to fuck off! 

LMFAO   1 

Avatar
alotronic | 8 years ago
2 likes

Hmmm, going to stick my neck out and get it chopped I think but... IF he was as horrible to the female athletes as has been stated then he certainly shouldn't be back trackside. I'm sure his style suits some riders but not others - the mark of a really great coach and BC would be to take athletic excellence and encourage it in the best way possible for that athlete in order to progress as far as they can. That would require a flexible, broad approach - shout at the riders who need and want shouting at, supporting those who need supporting. Is it too much to think a nationally funded body should be doing that? 

At a business level - who would birng him back before a new CEO was appointed? 

As for his record, well there's no proof in it as you can't run a control!

Avatar
Jimnm replied to alotronic | 8 years ago
0 likes

alotronic wrote:

Hmmm, going to stick my neck out and get it chopped I think but... IF he was as horrible to the female athletes as has been stated then he certainly shouldn't be back trackside. I'm sure his style suits some riders but not others - the mark of a really great coach and BC would be to take athletic excellence and encourage it in the best way possible for that athlete in order to progress as far as they can. That would require a flexible, broad approach - shout at the riders who need and want shouting at, supporting those who need supporting. Is it too much to think a nationally funded body should be doing that? 

At a business level - who would birng him back before a new CEO was appointed? 

As for his record, well there's no proof in it as you can't run a control!

I would put him up there with the greats such as Alex Ferguson,Man United, to name but one, a team but without him not as good as it was or could be. 

As for Shaun's dialogue between him an his staff as it were,  if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. (Or in that particular instance, get back in there!)   3 

I would assume that you have to be ruthless when competing at the highest level of sport to achieve the best results. 'Mr nice guy' just doesn't cut it at that level. 

Avatar
BikeBud replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
2 likes

Jimnm wrote:

alotronic wrote:

Hmmm, going to stick my neck out and get it chopped I think but... IF he was as horrible to the female athletes as has been stated then he certainly shouldn't be back trackside. I'm sure his style suits some riders but not others - the mark of a really great coach and BC would be to take athletic excellence and encourage it in the best way possible for that athlete in order to progress as far as they can. That would require a flexible, broad approach - shout at the riders who need and want shouting at, supporting those who need supporting. Is it too much to think a nationally funded body should be doing that? 

At a business level - who would birng him back before a new CEO was appointed? 

As for his record, well there's no proof in it as you can't run a control!

I would put him up there with the greats such as Alex Ferguson,Man United, to name but one, a team but without him not as good as it was or could be. 

As for Shaun's dialogue between him an his staff as it were,  if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. (Or in that particular instance, get back in there!)   3 

I would assume that you have to be ruthless when competing at the highest level of sport to achieve the best results. 'Mr nice guy' just doesn't cut it at that level. 

Undoubtedly he achieved great results for many riders, but there's a difference between being hard on people and being offensive and/or discriminatory.  These things are NOT mutually exclusive, and the results achieved do not excuse his behaviour.  

 

 

Avatar
Jimnm replied to BikeBud | 8 years ago
0 likes

BikeBud wrote:

Jimnm wrote:

alotronic wrote:

Hmmm, going to stick my neck out and get it chopped I think but... IF he was as horrible to the female athletes as has been stated then he certainly shouldn't be back trackside. I'm sure his style suits some riders but not others - the mark of a really great coach and BC would be to take athletic excellence and encourage it in the best way possible for that athlete in order to progress as far as they can. That would require a flexible, broad approach - shout at the riders who need and want shouting at, supporting those who need supporting. Is it too much to think a nationally funded body should be doing that? 

At a business level - who would birng him back before a new CEO was appointed? 

As for his record, well there's no proof in it as you can't run a control!

I would put him up there with the greats such as Alex Ferguson,Man United, to name but one, a team but without him not as good as it was or could be. 

As for Shaun's dialogue between him an his staff as it were,  if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. (Or in that particular instance, get back in there!)   3 

I would assume that you have to be ruthless when competing at the highest level of sport to achieve the best results. 'Mr nice guy' just doesn't cut it at that level. 

Undoubtedly he achieved great results for many riders, but there's a difference between being hard on people and being offensive and/or discriminatory.  These things are NOT mutually exclusive, and the results achieved do not excuse his behaviour.  

 

 

hey Bike Bud your not one of these political correctness people are you? All she had to say to Shane when he told her to go and have a baby is:- go fuck off ! It's the the old sticks and stones adage. If you feel you have been insulted just reply with an insult. 

Its no biggy !!!  Let's face it Shane knows his shit,  although I wouldn't recommend him to get a job as a mediater or an ambassador lol ! FFS

Avatar
BikeBud replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
1 like

Jimnm wrote:

BikeBud wrote:

Jimnm wrote:

alotronic wrote:

Hmmm, going to stick my neck out and get it chopped I think but... IF he was as horrible to the female athletes as has been stated then he certainly shouldn't be back trackside. I'm sure his style suits some riders but not others - the mark of a really great coach and BC would be to take athletic excellence and encourage it in the best way possible for that athlete in order to progress as far as they can. That would require a flexible, broad approach - shout at the riders who need and want shouting at, supporting those who need supporting. Is it too much to think a nationally funded body should be doing that? 

At a business level - who would birng him back before a new CEO was appointed? 

As for his record, well there's no proof in it as you can't run a control!

I would put him up there with the greats such as Alex Ferguson,Man United, to name but one, a team but without him not as good as it was or could be. 

As for Shaun's dialogue between him an his staff as it were,  if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. (Or in that particular instance, get back in there!)   3 

I would assume that you have to be ruthless when competing at the highest level of sport to achieve the best results. 'Mr nice guy' just doesn't cut it at that level. 

Undoubtedly he achieved great results for many riders, but there's a difference between being hard on people and being offensive and/or discriminatory.  These things are NOT mutually exclusive, and the results achieved do not excuse his behaviour.  

 

 

hey Bike Bud your not one of these political correctness people are you? All she had to say to Shane when he told her to go and have a baby is:- go fuck off ! It's the the old sticks and stones adage. If you feel you have been insulted just reply with an insult. 

Its no biggy !!!  Let's face it Shane knows his shit,  although I wouldn't recommend him to get a job as a mediater or an ambassador lol ! FFS

No, just reasonable.  I've worked for a very tough CEO who got great results and was also respectful.  If someone called my disabled son "a wobbly" or "gimp" I'd knock their fucking teeth out.  

Avatar
ooldbaker | 8 years ago
0 likes

I think they should reinstate him and give him a knighthood (there should be one going spare next week). 

London Olympics a track team of 12 competed with 11 Gold medalists

Rio Olympics a track team of 14 all won medals 11 Gold medalists.

I know it is far from a one man coaching set up but has there been a better record in the history of sport?

Avatar
Jackson replied to ooldbaker | 8 years ago
1 like

ooldbaker wrote:

I think they should reinstate him and give him a knighthood (there should be one going spare next week). 

London Olympics a track team of 12 competed with 11 Gold medalists

Rio Olympics a track team of 14 all won medals 11 Gold medalists.

I know it is far from a one man coaching set up but has there been a better record in the history of sport?

Sutton wasn't even at Rio! Dr Richard Freeman was though. Give him a knighthood and the other guy who delivers his secret packages for him.

Avatar
Jimnm | 8 years ago
0 likes

They should give Shane the benefit of the doubt. He has been the driving force of British cycling. He can't help being a little outspoken. It's just his nature. I am sure that he is not vindictive in anyway and has always done his best for cycling . He really deserves reinstatemen. IMO. 3  

Avatar
Awavey | 8 years ago
2 likes

is it just me that thinks Shane ought to just let the investigation properly conclude and publish their findings, and not keep continually pre-announcing it for them and his intention to take his old/new job back.

Avatar
dottigirl replied to Awavey | 8 years ago
1 like

Awavey wrote:

is it just me that thinks Shane ought to just let the investigation properly conclude and publish their findings, and not keep continually pre-announcing it for them and his intention to take his old/new job back.

Yeah, this and the others who keep on trying to pre-empt the result. Leaves a nasty taste.

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