THE departure of the coach once considered the architect of Scotland's athletics future has prompted radical rethinking by the national governing body.

Following a strategy review, scottishathletics are to advertise for a full-time director of coaching, athlete pathway and talent manager, and performance programmes manager.

This has been decided by a committee consisting of two of the three finest coaches the country has produced (Frank Dick and Tommy Boyle) plus Nigel Holl, the chief executive

With two such coaching luminaries to hold the fort there should be no sense of crisis. The governing body are fortunate to have such skills on tap. Yet with the London Olympics just seven months away, suitable candidates will be in short supply and there is no disguising the fact Scotland is seeking its third head coach in less than a year. The question trackside and in locker-rooms will be: "why?"

Laurier Primeau, who was in charge of the national team in Delhi, quit in January. He cited "personal reasons" for bowing out after less than 15 months. Despite his assurances to the contrary, the presence of former national coach and GB coaching director Dick made it difficult for the Canadian, who has since been handed the job as national coach for his country's Paralympic team next year.

His departure after such a short time, in mid-Commonwealth Games cycle, was viewed, at best, as disappointing and by some as little short of disaster. Now, with his interim replacement – heavily touted as likely successor – having opted out, the sport is looking for a third head coach since January.

Steve Rippon, head field events coach, had been nominated interim head coach, yet decided disturbingly quickly that his future lay in Finland, his wife's homeland.

That was in September and the fact that a successor may not be in place for a year is as disturbing as scottishathletics' failure to appoint somebody with staying power in the first place.

Even though athletes are proceeding with their own training under their personal coaches, these are largely unpaid. The likes of Malcolm Arnold, who looks after hurdler Eilidh Child, is an exception. This has done nothing to instil confidence in the structure. They must feel in a state of limbo as the Olympics approach, never mind less than 30 months out from the 2014 opening ceremony. We are running out of time.

The three key appointments (jobs are about to be advertised) will be underpinned by part-time positions geared to improving event-specific development.

Dick and Holl agreed yesterday that the situation was less than ideal. Neither thinks it is "disaster".

"If there are gaps, just as it was once my job to make sure relay changeovers were as good as they should be, then that has to happen here," said Dick. "There must be a sense of seamless continuity.

"We are agreed it's not perfect, but have to bite the bullet and get on with it. We need a sense of cohesive strategy that links us to the future. That's what we are looking for.

"We had real strength in both these coaches, but their sense of strategic future might have been better."

Dick has just returned this week from Argentina, where he has been putting in place programmes for the South American track and field countries for the 2016 Olympics. "I have done something very similar for South Africa and I've had a chance to review how other countries approach their strategic future.

"What we have done for Scotland now is unique and very innovative. I am pretty happy with the plans that are in place.

"We must inluence the young coaches so that our future is safe in their hands. That has not always been the case in the past. That's why there has been a fracture from the high promise seen in young Scottish athletes and what actually materialises at senior level. We need to ensure these coaches are given the support that they need.

"I hope it won't be too long before we appoint but the probability is that we may have to wait until after the Olympics. If we do, then every endeavour will be made to ensure it is not a disaster."

Rippon's view was that Scotland's future lay in technical events. That may be true but it should not be to the detriment of those who have dreams and ambitions in middle distance and endurance.

Rippon blundered with an overly rigid template which excluded some of Scotland's best young talent, notably Lyndsey Sharp and Eilish McColgan. That has been addressed. The new 41-strong Commonwealth Games squad includes 14 teenagers and changes in the coaching and performance structure should give further support for those not in that squad.

Holl said they would talk to candidates confidentially. "If the right person is not available until after the London Olympics, so be it. The director of coaching is a lead role and a long-term job – an eight-year-job. It's worth taking time to get the right person. Scotland has traditionally led the way in terms of coaching in various sporting fields."

But not since the days of Dick, John Anderson, Boyle, and Tom McNab in an athletics context.

Every follower of the sport in Scotland is tired of looking back, instead of forward.