FORMER coach Sam Woodward’s appointment as director of swimming development is one of several changes announced by Swim Bournemouth.

His new non-coaching role will be based around the administration and development of the club with school swimming, community engagement and increasing the club’s volunteer base high on his agenda.

Emma Richards remains as head coach and in charge of performance in the pool but will now be supported by former Ferndown Otters swimmer Anne-Marie Taylor.

Taylor, whose father Mark Taylor swam in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, will be looking after the club’s Bournemouth hub, while Sam Alderton takes the reins at the Ferndown hub.

Alderton, a former volunteer coach at Tornadoes of South Dorset, has been helping out since her daughter, Jaz Hepburn, joined Ferndown Otters, one of Swim Bournemouth’s predecessor clubs, a few years go.

Another change is the inception of a new youth squad, headed by another former Otter Neil Hamp.

The first step in club development has already been made, with the club almost at capacity for the first time since its inception in 2010 introducing a new youth squad.

Woodward said: “This new squad offers either a full or half programme to allow senior swimmers flexibility around their studies as well giving a full training timetable to allow athletes to achieve their personal goals.

“The new programme includes a land training programme delivered by the conditioning centre, which is based in Poole.”

Meanwhile, former Otters swimmer Clodagh Dear, who recently took over Swim Bournemouth’s Ferndown Hub novice group, has received a Regional Young Volunteer Aquaforce award from South West ASA.