Blain is currently head coach of the men’s squad in France and recently made history by leading them to a World League final for the first time in August this year in Moscow .

 

Despite losing out in the final to Brazil , the squad got their revenge and beat Brazil at the FIVB World Championships earlier this month before going out in the semi-final to Italy.

 

He has been appointed by the FIVB, the international governing body, to provide technical input into the programme and offer advice to the British programme.

 

Blain will land in the UK tomorrow, then travel up to the Sheffield English Institute of Sport and stay until Sunday.

 

British Volleyball have met with the top coach this year to establish his connection with the British Programme.

 

Meeting with players, current interim managers and newly appointed programme manager Wayne Coyle, who starts in February, Blain will be able to offer advice and support.

 

“He is an excellent person to provide us with advice on the structure and direction of the programme” says Richard Dobell, the interim manager of Britain's Olympic programme.

 

“The purpose of the visit is to look at the players, the facilities, meeting the current coaches and Wayne Coyle and establish a better understanding of what we have and where we are with a view of providing the advice and direction to enable us to make the step changes in performance we want to.”