SALLY GUNNELL last night confessed she fears the worst for the future of British athletics after seeing the sport's youth structure disintegrate.

Gunnell, an Olympic gold medallist in 1992, reckons talented youngsters are not being given the same opportunities that were afforded to her when she was a teenager. Britain's miserable performance at the recent World Championships in Paris, where they did not win any golds, has sent shockwaves through the sport in this country. Now, on the eve of the Great North Run, Gunnell has outlined how she wants to see an improvement in the support and coaching given to youngsters to bring about a long-term boost to British athletics.

She said: "People are panicking after the World Championships. The truth is that we've got talent, but it's not being nurtured.

"We were unfortunate in Paris, with Paula Radcliffe being injured and Dwain Chambers coming so close to winning in the relay.

"The real worry is we've got people who can win medals at the Olympics next year, but what about the next generation?

"We've got one set of juniors coming through that have done really well at the European Juniors and the World Student Games, but can they take the next step up?

"A lot of people are also going towards football and rugby these days. Maybe we're not getting the kids we used to get.

"You can't expect talented young people just to emerge aged 19 or 20; you have to nurture those people.

"Grassroots is so important but it's not being recognised as much as it was 20 years ago, when I was coming through.

"When I was at school, we were encouraged by PE teachers and we had a great club system, and that's not really in place any more.

"There aren't as many after-school activities or as much sport at schools at lunchtime any more.

"Sweden did so well at the World Championships because they've got something like 25 indoor tracks; we've got about three."