By Mark Walker, PA Sport

Former Great Britain team coach Frank Dick has accused some of our top athletes of putting commercial gain before their own personal performances.

Following Britain's worst team display at any major athletics event for 25 years at the World Championships in Edmonton, Dick has hit out at top stars who put their self-image first.

Britain collected just two medals in Canada - gold for triple jumper Jonathan Edwards and decathlete Dean Macey's bronze - after expectations were so high following the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

"Athletes must not focus on being a commercial success rather than being a good professional," Dick told BBC Radio Five Live.

He agreed that some of our athletes were more concerned with their image than their own actual performance.

"Take hairstyles for instance. They're all very nice, but why not paint it after you have won something and not beforehand?

"I often wonder whether we focus on the commercial implications before we do anything.

"Let's get on, let's do it, then focus on the consequences."

As many as 10 athletes were touted for medals going into the championships before a catalogue of withdrawals, injuries and a series of below-par displays turned Edmonton into an anti-climax for British hopefuls.

"It's all about focus. We are there to take care of business, take care of business first and let nothing, nothing get in the way."

Dick said that personal coaches were also a distraction and added: "We have to give athletes what they need to achieve, not what they want. There is a big difference."