IT is perhaps the most challenging job in Scottish sport, but Paul Bush is undaunted.

The new chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland made his first public appearance since his appointment at yesterday's announcement of Scotland's team for the Commonwealth Youth Games.

It's being staged for the fifth time, in Samoa from September 5-11. "They're not critical with regard to winning medals, but they are in terms of development," he says. The 250 CYG athletes selected to date have won 124 medals, and 66 of them have subsequently graduated to the Commonwealth Games, winning a total of 16 medals. There were 35 of them in Glasgow 2014.

Bush's biggest challenge is following the record 2014 medal haul. In April 2018, the next Commonwealth Games are on Queensland's Gold Coast. After the 53 medals on home soil by the largest and best-funded Scotland team ever, sustaining that is a big ask.

"You have to be optimistic, and continue to press the case - and have good reason to press the case," says Bush. "The government's whole mandate has been around legacy, not just the facilities' legacy, but of Scottish athletes continuing to do well.

"So my target for 2018 is to have the most successful Scottish team ever, off-shore." That was the Melbourne edition, in 2006, when Bush was Scotland's chef de mission.

"We need to target more than the 29 medals [11 gold] from Melbourne, and I think that's achievable with the current talent pool.

Until the medal rush of Glasgow 2014, Melbourne was the best Scottish performance ever, so it's no soft target. Another good omen is that last time the Games were in Queensland (Brisbane 1982) Scotland also fared exceptionally, equalling their then best of 26 medals with a record eight golds - two from sprinter Allan Wells.

"They say an April Games does not suit northern-hemisphere nations, but that wasn't the case in Melbourne," insists Bush. "These were also spring Games. It is about planning and preparation, and a mindset within the sports, athletes and coaches, that you are going to perform. Professional athletes are expected to be able to perform almost 52 weeks of the year, so I don't see that our Commonwealth athletes should be any different."

He is intent on "increasing Scotland's sphere of influence within the Commonwealth Games Federation. We need to ensure that the sports programme is appropriate and truly representative - and what the quotas mean - that's quite a controversial subject. The size of the Games is also quite an issue. We need to ensure there is an equitable balance between individual sports and team sports.

"I am worried that Durban 2022 has missed some major traditional sports from their bid, like cycling and gymnastics. And they are the only bidder. I think they need to look at the delivery model, to make it more attractive and cost-effective. Could you hold it across a range of cities within a country?"

The Olympic movement, facing even greater issues of scale and cost, have already considered and rejected this.

Bush's day job is director of events at Event Scotland. He was once director of swimming at the ASA and latterly CEO of Scottish swimming. He was on the England management team at two Commonwealths, and wrote swimming's initial lottery submission.

He knows change is a constant, and funding it becomes ever more difficult.

"In Scotland we should now be increasing funding, post 2014, not reducing them, if you are going to maintain momentum. I take my hat off to government and sport in terms of funding to Rio, but it remains to be seen what happens between Rio and Tokyo, given the fragility of finances at Westminster. But this is Scotland's only exposure on the international stage, and we have to put our money where our mouth is."

He wants to create greater income for the Games organisation and teams, and is planning to take the Games to the commercial market place. "I am keen to engage with the great Scots, the philanthropic nature of these people, and ask their advice - how we can get them engaged with the Commonwealth Games team, which we have never done before."

He is aware Durban are considering adopting three-on-three basketball, a break from the traditional game, and will omit cycling and gymnastics. This could have serious implications for Scottish funding of these sports for years.

He suggests the federation "have to focus on their core business - the future of the Games. That's their one big asset. They should really try for 2026 to get a very attractive, competitive process. The Commonwealths should have a level of sponsorship similar to major events like the Olympics. The federation has to get itself on a more robust platform."

Recent editions have been far from encouraging. Manchester and Melbourne, hosts in 2002 and 2006, won unopposed, with no other city interested. Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014, and Gold Coast each had only one rival. Durban are sole runners for 2022, while Cardiff, having made encouraging noises about 2026, now say it is too expensive to bid.

"Glasgow were custodians of the Games for seven years, and handed it back in fantastic condition, in terms of delivery and added value. But the Commonwealth movement needs to nurture great relationships with international federations to ensure they are at the right time on the calendar, to ensure they get the best athletes. And we need more cities in the competitive bidding process. But in no way do I despair. I think the future is very positive."