Furious Olympic funding row led to UK Athletics chief’s sensational exit

The shock departure of Stephen Maguire as UK Athletics chief came about following months of simmering tensions and rows over budgets ahead of next year’s Paris Olympics, the Guardian can reveal.

The news that Maguire, who guided Britain to a record-equalling 10 medals at the recent world championships in Budapest, was leaving his post was announced via a terse statement from UKA on Tuesday morning which did not even thank him for his achievements.

UKA has refused to comment further, however multiple sources have told the Guardian the departure followed a terse meeting between Maguire and the chief executive, Jack Buckner, in Loughborough on Tuesday. The pair are said to have disagreed previously over budgets amid the organisation’s worsening financial crisis. But no one expected the meeting to end with Maguire, who was also said to already have been unhappy about a lack of funds and the loss of key medical staff last week, quitting.

The loss of Maguire, who as technical director was in overall charge of the performance of British athletes, is the latest in a series of crises to hit UKA. This year it had to make 10 staff redundant after reporting losses of £1.8m. And there have been fears of further cuts after it made a six-figure loss from this summer’s Diamond League in London, despite the event selling out, further eating into £430,000 of reserves it has left.

UKA’s lack of funds could also affect athletes’ preparations for Paris, and the concern among the British team was reflected by national 100m and 200m record holder, Dina Asher-Smith, who called on UKA to explain what she called its “incredibly short-sighted decision” over Maguire.

On Instagram, Asher-Smith wrote: “Would love to see a full explanation of the reasoning behind this disappointing decision for the athletes and our performances. Stephen has been phenomenal, so dedicated, and has an excellent understanding of what it takes to be successful at track and field.”

Asher-Smith made it clear that Maguire would be a huge loss and said that his talent and ability was a key factor in the British team’s “overwhelming success in Budapest” – saying it had put the athletes on “an amazing path to Paris”.

“Such a snap decision as athletes begin to prepare for an Olympic Games cannot have been done with any consideration for the performance needs of athletes,” she said. “As an athlete it would be nice to have this explained to us, as much as any confidentiality clauses allow. Because from the outside looking in it seems like an incredibly short-sighted decision made without considering that we are in an Olympic year … and what it takes to perform at the highest level.”

When Maguire was appointed in June 2022, UKA described him as “the best person to lead the world class programme towards Paris and Los Angeles”. Yet less than 16 months later he is out – despite British athletes winning 10 medals at the worlds in Budapest, equalling their performance in Stuttgart in 1993.

The Northern Irishman was well regarded, although he did have differences of opinion with his head of sprints, Darren Campbell, including over the direction of the 4x100m relay team. Campbell has been on gardening leave since July.