By Gary Anderson

Jason Lee has left his role as head coach of the England women's hockey team ©Ady KerryJason Lee has left his role as head coach of the England women's hockey team less than a month before the start of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games after an England Hockey review into the side's worst performance at a World Cup earlier this month.

England Hockey performance director Danny Kerry will take temporary charge of the side in Glasgow, which finished 11th out of 12 teams at the Hockey World Cup in The Hague.

Lee took over as women's head coach following the London 2012 Olympic Games, where the side secured a bronze medal.

He guided them to a silver medal at the EuroHockey Championships in 2013, as well as a bronze medal at the Hockey World League Finals in the same year.

But the 44-year-old has paid the price for a poor showing at this year's World Cup.

England were ranked number three in the world going into the tournament but defeats to the United States, China, South Africa and Argentina saw them finish bottom of their group with their only win coming against Belgium via a penalty shootout.

"It has been very disappointing that the last major event turned out as it did," admitted Lee, who represented Great Britain as a player at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

"I would like to thank those who took a chance appointing me as head coach back in 2003.

"It has been an honour to take teams to three Olympics and three World Cups.

"I wish my successor all the very best and hope that both Great Britain teams can make it to Rio."

Lee was unable to prevent England's worst ever performance at a World Cup where they finished 11th out of 12 teams ©Ady KerryLee was unable to prevent England's worst ever performance at a World Cup where they finished 11th out of 12 teams ©Ady Kerry



Lee retired from playing following the 1998 World Cup and at the age of 33 led the Great Britain's men's team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

He was also in charge at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, where the men's side finished fourth.

In 2009, he coached the England's men's team to its first ever gold medal at the European Championships with victory over Germany in Amsterdam.

That was followed by a bronze at the 2011 Championships in Mönchengladbach, Germany.

"We would like to thank Jason for his hard work and dedication as coach of both national sides," said England Hockey chief executive Sally Munday.

"He has made an outstanding contribution to England and Great Britain's hockey teams over a coaching career of more than 10 years."

England Hockey says the recruitment process to find a replacement for Lee has already got underway.

England's women have won two silver and two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games since the sport was introduced to the programme in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

Fourteen of the squad that performed so disappointingly in the World Cup will be looking to make amends in Glasgow in just a few weeks time.

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