Rowing NZ continuing discussions with Tonks

New Zealand rowing coach Dick Tonks. Photo / Getty

Rowing New Zealand will continue discussions with coach Richard Tonks with the aim of achieving the best outcome for Kiwi athletes.

Rowing NZ this afternoon released a brief statement in response to reports that Tonks was "finished" with the organisation after the parties disagreed over Tonks coaching Chinese rowers at Lake Karapiro.

"Rowing New Zealand continues to be in discussions with Richard Tonks," the statement read. "These discussions are based on achieving the best outcome for the athletes. Supporting the athletes is the number one priority for Rowing New Zealand. We are aiming for a positive outcome for all involved."

Olympic bosses had earlier pledged to mediate in the crisis threatening New Zealand's powerful gold medal charge in Rio next year.

The Olympic Committee president Mike Stanley, a world championship winning rower, is offering to step in to repair the damage between the legendary coach and Rowing NZ.

Stanley, a former RNZ chief executive, told RadioSport's Martin Devlin that professional sport had gone beyond the point where it could accept a repeat of the bizarre Arthur Lydiard situation at the 1960 Rome Olympics. The great Lydiard had to coach from an unofficial position even though the three stars - Peter Snell, Murray Halberg and Barry Magee - were his athletes.

Stanley said: "Dick appears quite unequivocal there...but my understanding is there is reconsideration of the position and I really hope that will take place.

"We are keen to see if something can be worked out so Dick remains available to the athletes he is coaching.

"Certainly we would and I've offered to (RNZ chief executive) Simon Peterson and rowing that if the Olympic committee can help in any way as an intermediary we would be happy to."

Stanley indicated there might be more at stake than simply the desire that Tonks remain coaching Mahe Drysdale and the women's double.

"We (the Olympic team) must must live together in harmony in a very high pressure environment, with consistency of the rules and ways of doing things and RNZ has its own requirements as well," he said.

"I guess all of us live within those systems and have to especially when a programme gets large. The rowing New Zealand programme is world leading...and requires certain disciplines to be maintained."

Stanley said the Olympic committee was guided by the individual sports on Olympic team make-up. He could not recall a sport being vetoed from above.

Meanwhile another of New Zealand's rowing stars Hamish Bond - who dominates the coxless pairs alongside Eric Murray - gave some backing to RNZ's position. Bond and Murray were guided by Tonks to the 2012 Olympic gold but have been coached by Australian Noel Donaldson since.

"I only found out yesterday and don't know any other details - it's nothing to do with Eric and I (but) I back New Zealand Rowing in its decision making," said Bond.

On Tonks' relationship with his rowers, Bond said: "I don't think that's worth getting into at this point.

"You don't have to get on necessarily for it to be a successful relationship or partnership although it certainly helps or makes it easier.

"It is the same with rowers. You don't need to get on with who you row with but it generally makes life easier to turn up to your place of work every single day.

"Obviously this will be disruptive for the crews he coaches individually. For everyone else I can't imagine any disruption whatsoever. It doesn't concern us to be honest. It will be the locker room conversation no doubt just as you would expect."