 Bill Sweetenham says he will step down as British swimming chief in 2008 |
Bill Sweetenham says he has changed his style of coaching after a bullying inquiry and insists British swimming will suffer as a result. The performance director was cleared of any wrongdoing but told BBC Sport: "I have been burnt by the investigation.
"I am not going to be prepared to put myself under that sort of pressure again, so I'll take a softer approach.
"I won't be able to fast track, I'll have to be genteel. It's not the ideal approach if you want success."
The Australian admitted he had contemplated quitting several times after being accused by the Times newspaper of contributing to the retirement of 13 British Olympians.
"Many times I felt like this is not worth it, that I am trying to do an impossible job," he said.
"To make changes you have to take risks, put yourself in the firing line and push the boundaries.
"We did that and Britain has made massive changes. Britain is accepted around the world as being an emerging nation which can threaten the top countries.
 |  I'll still give 100%. I'm fortunate in that I've trained 18 swimmers to 27 Olympic and World Championship medals |
"But it's been a massive cost for me personally - living away from home, being away from my businesses in Australia, and I don't want to carry that cost on."
Sweetenham is contracted until the 2008 Olympics, but he insisted he would not be carrying on after that date.
"I won't be there for 2012. That will be someone else's baton," he said.
"I will be worn out by then. I will have set it all up and someone else can come in and run with it."
Sweetenham, who is in Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games, says he will continue to give his all until he steps down.
"I'll come at it from a different angle," he said.
"I'll still give 100%. I'm fortunate in that I've trained 18 swimmers to 27 Olympic and World Championship medals.
"I have a proven track record of how to get results."
MMIX
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