Molesey Boat Club’s director of rowing Paul Thorpe insists sweeping changes to the club’s junior section have the backing of the whole club and are not part of an elitist agenda.

Members and parents have reacted angrily to news 65-year-old head of junior coaching Dickon Poole - and eight other junior coaches - have been axed to make way for a new fifteen-strong team.

Poole, who according to Thorpe had signalled his intention to step down last October after 15-years service, described himself as ‘devastated’ at the move last week.

He claimed the plans, due to be formerly unveiled at a meeting with parents and athletes in March 13, would see the number of junior members halved at Barge Walk and cost upto £20,000 in fees amid fears the club was focusing attention on only elite athletes.

The decision, rubberstamped by club captain and Beijing Olympics gold medalist Andrew Triggs-Hodge, was taken earlier this month and will see specialist coaches share duties throughout the junior section rather than take responsibility for individual age groups and crews.

Thorpe says it is an overhaul designed to make better use of the club’s strong links with Great Britain development set-up, while at the same time bringing fresh blood into Molesey’s coaching structure.

And the director of rowing insists talk of the overhaul putting the future of junior rowing at the club in jeopardy is well wide of the mark.

“We are an open club. To compete at the likes of Henley Regatta we must retain that open status. Anyone of any age and ability is still welcome to row at Molesey,” he said.

“We have 162 junior members and that will continue to be the case. It is about managing the resources and facilities at the club better. The coaches we have brought in are still volunteers. It is not costing us anything.

“The new team has various different areas and levels of expertise that we hope can deliver a broader range of coaching in line with practices at GB level.

“Dickon and the others have been asked to step aside for what is a new vision, but their input is more than welcome under the new structure.

“It is important to plan for the future. Coaches can’t carry on forever and there comes a time where you have to bring in younger coaches with new ideas.

Some parents have been highly critical of the sudden move describing the loss of the coaches as like a bereavement to some of the children, while Poole and his team are resigned to moving elsewhere.

However, Thorpe insists the decision wasn’t made on a whim.

“This was voted on by the rowing committee and all sixteen of the club committee unanimously voted for the changes. It is fully backed by the club,” he added.

“We have tried to make changes in the past and - with Dickon making it clear he wished to step down some time a go - it is about making sure our junior and development programme remains in a strong position moving forward.”