BRITS END CONTRACT WITH OLYMPIC BADMINTON MANAGER
by Mike Grossman (from a report filed by YANG YANG Badminton Equiment)

November 26, 1996 (New Shuttlenws) - The British Olympic Association and Andy Goode, the sometimes controversial manager of the British badminton team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, have parted ways with the BOA deciding not to extend Goode's contract.

Goode was the manager of the unsuccessful British badminton effort at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. The British went to Atlanta with such high hopes for a medal in the mixed doubles as well as in the women's doubles. They were fielding the then second-best mixed doubles pair in the world, Simon Archer and Julie Bradbury, amd a top-rated women's doubles pair, Bradbury and Joanne Wright.

Unfortunately for the British and Andy Goode, Julie Bradbury fell ill just before the Olympic Games started and was not fully recovered during the competition. Archer and Bradbury were eliminated in the early rounds, well out of medal contention. So were Joanne Wright and Bradbury.

Andy Goode, former English international in badminton, had been appointed British Olympic badminton manager amid a minor controversy. Goode was at that time engaged to marry Joanne Wright, a key member of the British team (They have since gotten married). British badminton observers questioned his ability to act impartially and worried about the impact on team morale, given his very close relationship with Miss Wright.

Goode also raised some eyebrows with his selection of the Welsh player Kelly Morgan to the British team and his support of her during the Olympic qualifying process over then higher-rated English and Scottish players.

The biggest controversy during Goode's tenure occurred during the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, badminton's most prestigious international event, in Hong Kong in May. Three of the English players, Archer, Bradbury and Wright, opted, against the wishes of the English badminton association but with Goode's public support, not to play for England and instead save their efforts for a medal attempt at Atlanta. This move earned a stern reprimand from the International Badminton Federation, and, needless to say, did not gain Britain an Olympic medal.