Mr Donnelly hit out at the Scottish Government's decision Nicol Stephen attack

Sportscotland chairwoman Julia Bracewell and Institute of Sport chairman, broadcaster Dougie Donnelly, will go as part of a shake-up.

Ministers decided to merge the two organisations' boards.

Mr Salmond told MSPs that it was "perfectly understandable" to have one person chairing one agency.

But Mr Donnelly said athletes' prospects would be damaged by a "ridiculous piece of political manoeuvring" while Ms Bracewell, a former Olympic fencer, said she was "disappointed".

Who does he think that people in Scotland trust more on sport? Dougie Donnelly or Stewart Maxwell? Nicol Stephen Scottish Lib Dem leader

The SNP, whose election manifesto included a commitment to scrap sportscotland, were accused of a U-turn after deciding to keep the agency.

And Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell had to apologise to parliament after some details of the merger went to the media before MSPs.

But ministers said the new structure would cut bureaucracy and boost support for grassroots and elite sport, while pointing out that a number of sporting bodies welcomed the decision.

During question time at Holyrood, the Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders, Wendy Alexander and Nicol Stephen, urged Mr Salmond to comment on the way the sackings were handled.

Mr Stephen asked the first minister: "Who does he think that people in Scotland trust more on sport? Dougie Donnelly or Stewart Maxwell?"

Nicol Stephen raised concern about Stewart Maxwell's conduct

Pointing out that there were just more than 200 days until the Olympic Games, the Lib Dem leader went on: "Instead of sharpening up Scotland's performance at the games, ministers were sharpening their long knives for the back of Dougie Donnelly."

Mr Salmond said there could not be two chairs of one board, adding: "Even the Liberal Democrats might find it a bit difficult.

"Two effective organisations were taken to create one organisation with one board and, therefore, one chair," he told MSPs.