Guy Dresser | Oronne Communications - Olympic silver medalist Paul Ratcliffe has been appointed  GB Canoeing’s Canoe Slalom Podium Head Coach. Ratcliffe, who was 2nd at the 2000 Sydney Games in slalom, was one of  the first cohort of coaches to graduate from UK Sport’s Elite Coach Programme in 2007 and began working at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire as Podium Coach in 2011.

During the last Olympic training cycle he guided the Women’s Kayak Class to World and European Championships medals and coached Lizzie Neave at the London Olympic Games in 2012.

Ratcliffe has been standing in as acting Head Coach following the departure at the beginning of this month of Jurg Gotz, who had the top job for 12 years and was credited with Britain’s historic one-two in the mens’ C2 slalom at London 2012.

Meanwhile, the job of GB Canoeing chief canoe sprint coach is still up for grabs following Brendon Purcell’s departure for triathlon.

We reported recently that Ivan Lawler, the seven-time world champion and multiple Olympian had been ruled out of consideration. Ivan’s lack of top-level coaching expertise is believed to have counted against him, his application having been automatically rejected by the sports jobs website’s software.

Rumours that former Olympic rowing champion Tim Foster was interested appear to be wide of the mark, we understand. Ivan’s father, Roland, is known to have applied for the post, however it’s not known how far the selectors are from making a decision – watch this space.