Olympic gold medallist James DeGale today claimed that Britain's hopes of boxing glory at the 2012 London Games had been damaged by the axing of chief coach Terry Edwards.

Less than a fortnight after being awarded an MBE, Edwards, who took a record eight boxers to last summer's Games, was told that his contract will not be renewed.

The 65-year-old appears to be the victim of power struggles within the Amateur Boxing Association of England and the newly-established British Amateur Boxing Association, which has appointed former Olympic coach Kevin Hickey.

DeGale, the Harlesden middleweight who today was set to confirm he will make his professional debut in Birmingham at the end of February, claimed: "Our hopes of medals in 2012 have gone right downhill.

"This is utter madness, especially after what Terry did for us in Beijing. It only confirms my view that those who run the sport are idiots."