David Moffett to step down as Sport England chief

The chief executive of Sport England, David Moffett, has announced that he will step down from the post next spring.

Moffett took up the role in January 2002 and has had to endure a difficult time, with Sport England receiving harsh criticism for its role in the Wembley Stadium saga.

Moffett said that he was 'confident that the majority of tasks required to deliver a new Sport England will have been achieved by next March,' and felt it was the right time to leave, adding that 'an agent of change only has a certain shelf life.'

Sports Minister Richard Caborn suggested that Moffett had been regarded as a longer-term candidate, saying: 'The news came as a great surprise,' but he added: 'The search for a talented and energetic chief executive begins immediately.' Details: www.sportengland.org