The 2003 World Cup-winning England rugby union coach hailed the performance of Britain's team at the Beijing Olympics where the squad won 47 medals, a record for a Games outside London.

 

But he insisted that he believed that there was still plenty of scope for Britain to improve on that impressive tally at London 2012.

 

Speaking at the Guernsey Sports Commission Gala Dinner, where he was the guest of honour, he said: "We won 19 [gold medals] but 70 per cent of them came from three sports – rowing, cycling and sailing.

 

"I like to call these the Formula One sports.

 

"My role is to help the other sports become Formula One sports.

 

"Personally, I’ve never put a figure on it [the number of golds for London].

 

"All you can ask from the athletes is that they perform to their very best, then the medal table will look after itself."

 

Sir Clive's ambitious plans have been hit by raising money to finance them in the the current difficult economic climate but he insisted that he will not leave his role, as one report earlier this week claimed.

 

Woodward's British Olympic Association coaching programme is budgeted at £15 million over the next four years, and he is beginning to question whether the finances will be forthcoming.

 

He said: "Unless we can raise the funding, there's no point in going ahead.

 

"But I'm so excited about this, I have no intention of walking away from it."