Irish sprint swimmer Nick O'Hare, may not have been among the front runners at last weekend's European short course championships in Sheffield, but came away encouraged that he is on the right track.

O'Hare took heart in Mark Foster's world record shattering feats at the event and more importantly, O'Hare, whose form improved at the big European event, is especially pleased with what Foster told him in the competitors stand.

The British star has been working on what is broadly the same programme as that devised by celebrated German-based coach Dirk Lange for O'Hare in Hamburg. "It was at least encouraging to learn from Mark that it has taken him up to six months to adjust to the new routine," said the Dubliner. "It gives me time." Foster, a regular visitor to the Lange camp in Hamburg was obviously showing the fruits of the programme on Sunday when setting up world figures for the 50 metres freestyle, finishing in 21.31.

But O'Hare fears that if funding for the Irish swimmers does not come on stream soon there will be "nobody going to the Sydney Olympics". "There are only 40 months remaining now to the 2000 Games," he said. "From what I have been listening to from other members of the Irish team in Sheffield the mood could not be worse. They have admitted to me that they have simply no motivation without funding.

"It is clear to me that we will be going nowhere if the same levels of preparation that now obtain are to continue for much longer," he added.