There's usually a chummy, clubable atmosphere at Scottish athletics championships. Outside the heat of the arena, the occasional ex-Olympian is accorded respect

There's usually a chummy, clubable atmosphere at Scottish athletics championships. Outside the heat of the arena, the occasional ex-Olympian is accorded respect. Old rivals swap memories and replay old duels. Coaches score points and trade expertise (but always hold just a little back).

That amiable banter may be in short supply this weekend at Pitreavie, however. For many are irked at what they feel is a governing body snub.

The sport's most pressing need is unity of purpose between coaches, clubs and governing body. Divided we fall in 2014, but harmonious union is in serious question.

The Association of Scottish Athletics Coaches sprung into being this week, to the surprise of most members of the Scottish Athletics Coaches Association.

Confused? The latter body was formed in January. They were trying to kick start dialogue with the governing body. It was a well-meaning move by experienced coaches who felt marginalised and disenfranchised by scottishathletics.

Their mistake was to think they might be the ones to fulfil the governing body's aim, revealed in their draft six-year plan last November, to set up a new coaches' association.

But there's sweeping criticism of that plan, by clubs and coaches, over inadequate consultation. Some feel it's been railroaded. It's to be reviewed by sportscotland next week.

Both coaching bodies have worthy members. If anything, the newer one is marginally more heavyweight. It's chaired by Frank Dick, former UK and Scottish national coach, and includes Tommy Boyle (mentor of champions like Yvonne Murray and Tom McKean) and Liz McColgan, former world champion, and has minimal representation from the other body, among these is former 400m Olympian Brian Whittle, who's getting pelters for his switch. "I'd rather be on the inside, than outside throwing stones," he retorts.

But the sport is ill-advised to alienate the other camp. SACA secretary, former head teacher Eric Simpson, 50 years in the sport, 33 of them as a coach, said: "We've been marginalised again. This is divide-and-conquer. Scottishathletics do nothing for coaches. We are still prepared to work with the sport. We don't need them, but they certainly need us."

SACA feel the sport's six-year plan focuses overly on the elite, and risks driving youngsters away. They cite a desire for excessive control and feel dictated to, "though we'll always help the sport," said SACA chair Bill Walker.

There is a coaches' meeting at Pitreavie during day two of the championships tomorrow, where the organisers will have a special area set aside for coaches. But only senior ones - levels three and four.

"Scottishathletics hasn't had a level-three exam in years," claims Simpson. "That's part of the problem. This will just allienate coaches further."