Sports Coach UK has poured cold water on the prospect of merging its Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) with the CIMPSA Directory, despite ongoing discussions between the organisations.

In a statement, Sports Coach UK – which purchased REPs in its entirety earlier this week – said there were “no plans to merge the register with any other organisation”.

“This purchase is about widening our horizons within the physical activity landscape. What this means for our customers is we can now enhance our offer to members and ultimately improve the service of the register,” said a Sports Coach UK spokesperson.

“We are committed to working with the industry to ensure that REPs is current and fit for purpose.”

A CIMSPA spokesperson had told Sports Management that while the organisation “cannot state” that the registers will merge, it was not an option it would rule out.

They added that CIMSPA had entered into “early discussions” with Sports Coach UK about “simplifying the landscape for the best needs of the sector”.

Following Sports Coach UK’s acquisition of REPs, the former’s chief executive Mark Gannon told Sports Management that the organisation was “working closely” with CIMSPA.

“I actually think there’s an opportunity here,” he said. “We’re in dialogue with CIMSPA on a number of fronts, including trying to find some clarity in the system so that everybody knows where they fit in.

“That’s ongoing because we have a really positive relationship with CIMSPA.”

Last April, Sport England revealed its intention to support CIMSPA – the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity – after the body was endorsed by the government’s Sporting Future strategy.

CIMSPA then made its intention clear that it would create an alternative register to REPs.

The possibility of the two organisations merging their registers of employers in the sport and fitness sector would be welcomed by many in the industry.

One high-profile industry insider told Sports Management that the opportunity of “bringing everything together” would provide the best support fitness professionals “from gym floor to boardroom”.

Gannon declined to divulge how much Sports Coach UK had purchased REPs for.

While the body is largely funded by Sport England, a spokesperson for the quango told Sports Management that no public funds distributed by Sport England had been used to purchase REPs, and the organisation was “comfortable” with the transaction.