Maher led China's women to fourth place in Beijing last year

Tom Maher, who led Australia to Olympic medals in 1996 and 2000, has been appointed the new coach of the Great Britain women's basketball team.

Maher, 56, who took China to fourth place in Beijing last year, replaces Mark Clark, who resigned in February.

GB were relegated from Europe's Division A, leaving their 2012 Olympic participation in doubt.

But Maher said: "Taking the job was a no-brainer. Who wouldn't want to coach a home nation at the Olympics?"

GB Basketball are still optimistic of playing at the next Olympics but they have yet to be given clear criteria for their inclusion as hosts.

"Certainly the British team will be better," added Maher, whose Australia team won a bronze medal in Atlanta and silver in Athens.

"GB has made a lot of effort to improve, that much is clear and now I'm going to try as hard as I can."

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