It was confirmed by the Irish Hockey Union (IHU) yesterday that Cees Koppelaar's 10-year reign as National coach had ended by mutual agreement. His contract still has nine months to run. Koppelaar stressed to the executive committee that it was not his disappointment that Ireland had not qualified in Kuala Lumpur for the 1998 World Cup finals in Utrecht which had prompted his request to resign. He said that with his increasing commitments in Holland, he would be unable to find the extra time he feels is now necessary to give to the job of National coach. An IHU statement said: "In these circumstances, and taking into account that Ireland's next major is the European Nations Cup in Italy in 1999, he believes it is the most appropriate time to step down to allow the IHU time to seek his successor."

Koppelaar said that he would always retain a deep interest in Irish hockey and if asked to do so, he would continue to organise the training camps in Holland which had proved so beneficial in the past.

Marius Gallagher, president of the IHU, paid tribute to "the tremendous contribution Koppelaar had made, not only to the international playing side, but also for his efforts in conjunction with the National coaching committee to improve the overall standard in Ireland."

Ireland's most notable achievement under Koppelaar was to finish fifth in the 1995 European Championship in Dublin (gaining automatic qualification for the 1999 finals). Fifth place in the 1988 Intercontinental Cup in New Jersey was also highly commendable, leading to participation in the in the 1990 World Cup in Lahore.

An occasion of special satisfaction for Koppelaar was in the summer of 1995 at Belfield when, in his 100th match as National coach, Ireland beat his home country of Holland for the first time in 21 internationals. Ireland's six successive wins in the World Championship pre-qualifying tournament in Cagliari last autumn also called for mellow celebration.

The first moves to find a successor to Koppelaar have begun with the union's executive requesting the National coaching committee to prepare and recommend a list of potential, available coaches from which a shortlist can be compiled. "With the rising standards of coaching in Ireland," yesterday's statement said, "it is very likely that suitably-qualified, home-based coaches will now be given the opportunity to apply for this very vital and commanding position in Irish hockey."