McCracken started his boxing career as a welterweight in 1991

Former world middleweight title challenger Robert McCracken will lead Great Britain's bid for medals at the 2012 Olympics in London.

The former professional has been named as the British Amateur Boxing Association's new performance director.

The 41-year-old replaces Kevin Hickey, who resigned from the role in September after just eight months in the job.

"Rob is here to take the elite programme to the next level," Baba executive chairman Derek Mapp said.

"He brings a depth of expertise that knows and understands both amateur boxing and what it takes to produce a world champion."

606: DEBATE Have your say on McCracken's appointment here

McCracken, who trains WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch and three other rising professionals, will be given control of Baba's entire performance programme with a view to achieving multiple medal success in the London 2012 Olympics.

Baba is funded by UK Sport and assumed responsibility for the development of Britain's elite boxers on 1 October 2008.

Officials will hope his appointment brings to an end a period of turmoil which began when former performance director Terry Edwards was sacked in the wake of the Beijing Games and continued when Hickey resigned after just eight months.

McCracken said: "It is a privileged position to be given the job of moulding the boxers towards the Olympics. There is some great talent already in the squad and more coming through.

"It is a good chance to work with the best young lads in Great Britain. The most fulfilling thing you can do is bring through a young fighter and help them develop to the best of their potential."

McCracken, from Birmingham, enjoyed a career that boasted 33 wins and just two defeats, the last of those in 2001.

He will take Froch, who is currently locked into the long-term Super Six tournament and has a major fight against Mikkel Kessler looming in March, to Sheffield to train alongside the nation's best amateurs.

He added: "Carl has been great about it and I think it will be an inspiration for some of the lads to have a world champion working alongside them."

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