Blackmore will consider other AAG posts

Jan 13, 2009 Sports

Definitely don’t want presidency

Claude Blackmore

By Edison Jefford
Claude Blackmore has made it pellucid that his future with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) rests with the local clubs’ confidence (or lack thereof) in him to continue with the organisation he has served for 18 years.
The outgoing president said that he will definitely decline a presidential nomination from any of the clubs but he will be willing to work under any other portfolio even if it is at the basic level of AAG Council Member.
“Clubs have approached me to reconsider my decision (to not seek reelection) and I said to them that I am not runningend of story!” Blackmore told Kaieteur Sport with some amount of conclusiveness yesterday.
“I definitely don’t want the presidency! If they think that they still require my services at another level then I will see what they put me up for and make a decision on the morning of the elections,” the current AAG head said.
According to Blackmore, the council was made aware of his considerations to not contest the presidency at last year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in January, so the furore over his departure should not surprise them.
Asked if he has endorsed anyone for the top position, the departing president said that he will not go that route and has even informed Director of Sport, Neil Kumar about his reservations on endorsing anyone for the post.
“I will not go down that line. I even told the Director of Sport. I believe people get what they elect. They (the clubs) have to decide if I can still make a contribution. If they feel soso be it!” Blackmore reiterated.
The outgoing AAG boss has been constantly blamed for the underperformance of track and field in Guyana, which is in part owed to the absence of a synthetic track here. His rebuttal is that Governments provide facilities.
On Sunday, national sprint champion Rawle Greene said that the changes should be more broadbased than just the departure of Blackmore. Greene stopped one breath short of calling on more AAG officials to depart.
The general feeling at the grassroots level of the sport is that Blackmore’s decision to not seek reelection is a welcomed lifeline for the discipline but that elation could evaporate when the nomination sheets are declared.
It would not be an accurate assessment to negatively query his support among the current AAG Council. Blackmore is responsible for many of their exposure and the indebtedness could once again elevate him to another top post.

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