Derek Casey, director of Glasgow’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, is stepping down and doesn’t want to be considered in any future role in the organization of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, reports The Herald.
Casey announced his decision at the strategic planning group of the three bid partners at their first meeting Thursday since the announcement that Glasgow won the bid.
Casey said he intends to return to voluntary work in international sport. He was perceived as a potential candidate for one of the three key Glasgow 2014 organizing committee posts – chair, chief executive or director of Games services. An appointment must be made by February 17 – 100 days after the vote.
Casey said, “it’s important for the incoming organizing committee to have the freedom to make all appointments and it would have been presumptuous of me to anticipate being involved in that, but I do hope that the unified team approach, which has characterized the bid campaign, will continue. From the First Minister down, both Mack McConnell and Alex Salmond, it has been an extraordinary team effort on a grand scale from first to last”.
Louise Martin, chair of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Council, is standing down from her position at the end of the month but remains on the management board.
Rob Shorthouse, the bids press officer, is also leaving Glasgow 2014 at the end of the month to become director of communications at the Scottish Football Association.
