Sir Clive Woodward decides to quit British Olympic Association job

Sir Clive Woodward is to leave his position as director of sport at the British Olympic Association.

The 56-year-old took over the post in 2006 and oversaw preparations for both the Beijing and London Games.

"Post London 2012 is the right time for me to leave the BOA, which is now taking a new direction following a home Games," Woodward said.

"I've enjoyed being a part of Team GB. To have been involved... has been an amazing experience."

Woodward, who previously coached England to rugby union World Cup glory in 2003, was deputy chef de mission as Team GB won 65 medals and finished third in the London 2012 medal table.

He keeps an ambassadorial role and his seat on the IOC's entourage commission.

Woodward's position was under threat after a restructuring programme was agreed last month by the board of the BOA.

He added: "The challenge of delivering a home Olympic Games to our largest ever Olympic team has been exhilarating and I would like to congratulate everyone concerned on the best Olympic performance of a host nation in the modern Games era."

Colin Moynihan, the outgoing chairman of the BOA, paid tribute to Woodward.

"Clive's contribution to the success of Team GB and his total focus on delivering world leading BOA performance services to the athletes at Games time has been a major factor in the outstanding results of our athletes both in Beijing 2008 and London 2012," he said.

"At all times he embraced the priority the BOA attached to ensure that the athletes we selected, managed and led to the Games were the epicentre of all our work."