Stanley, who has worked as a national coach mentor since 2009, takes over the position which will involve managing the now globally recognised coach education and development programme as well as developing a seamless link between coach development and elite performance.

He replaces Kevin Tyler, who left UK Athletics in January.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have been given the role, but I'm under no misapprehensions about the size of the job," said Stanley.

"It covers the whole of the British Isles and it will mean hopefully bringing the Home Countries closer together.

"I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

"I want to push forward and accelerate the process of the formal coaching education system,

"I'd like to get everybody working together and have one team throughout.

"It's a long term project; I want to get the sport as healthy as I possibly can with high participation and good retention of both athletes and coaches while creating more highly skilled coaches across Great Britain."

Stanley, who has also worked with joint British long jump record holder Chris Tomlinson, currently coaches a group including British long jumper J. J. Jegede as well as triple jumper Yasmine Regis.

Jonathan Edwards celebrates setting a world triple jump at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg, a mark which has now stood for 18 years

Edwards worked with Stanley throughout his career and has held the world record of 18.29 metres since 1995, a mark that does not look like being broken anytime in the near future.

"I am delighted to hear Peter is the new strategic head of coaching and development for British Athletics," said Edwards, who also won the Oympic gold medal at Sydney in 2000. 

"As a performance coach he has achieved the ultimate with his athletes, and continues to bring the best out of them week in week out.

"His appointment is fantastic news for the sport of athletics, and recognition of his talent and achievements in coaching."

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