Warner admitted that it would be difficult for Britain to contribute greatly to the British Olympic Association's target of finishing fourth in the overall medal in London.

 

"This is dangerous if it is a central target," he said during an interview with BBC Radio 5.

 

"I'd love it to happen but it is an awful long way from where we are now. I refuse to be hanged on that target."

 

Warner's comments echoed those of Niels de Vos, appointed as the new chief executive last week, who has admitted that Britain's performances have decreased in recent years.

 

In a newspaper interview published today Sir Keith Mills, the deputy chairman of London 2012, had warned that athletics needs to improve.

 

"Five years is a short time in some regard, but a long time in others," Warner told BBC Radio 5.

 

"The issue is to look at the young talent we have and see if, with five years of fertilisation, watering, help and nurturing, they can get fit to the start line.

 

"What gives me hope is that the average age of Olympic champions is coming down. It used to be the high-20s and now it's the mid-20s so, in 2012, a lot of our promising athletes will be approaching just the right age.

 

"But this is not a business whereby you say 'we've put so much financial backing in, we expect so much back'. It does not work like that."

 

The full interview can be downloaded from http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/sol/newsid_6330000/newsid_6334700?redirect=6334767.stm&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&news=1.