THE Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association are planning to establish a panel of top coaches after next month's Asian Games to share the heavy burden of the Hong Kong Sports Institute's head coach. Current HKSI head coach Bill Sweetenham, who will retire from the post at the end of November, has been working on the plan with the Swimming Technical Committee (STC) of the HKASA before introducing it to their associated clubs. HKASA chairman Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, who is also the chairman of the STC, said the plan emphasised the promotion of more club coaches to national level. 'We concentrate too much on the head coach now,' Wong said. 'We hope there will be more experienced and professional coaches to share the coaching of the national team.' The HKASA are set to choose the top coaches from their associated clubs which produce good swimmers and results. 'There are around 10 clubs on our target list and we invite them to recommend their best coaches to form a top panel.' Sweetenham has recommended Chan Yiu-hoi, one of the current national coaches, as his successor. Wong said although Chan had not officially accepted the job, the coaching plan would go ahead irrespective of whoever became the new HKSI head coach.
