Linford Christie was heralded as the man to save British sprinting after another fiasco by England's quartet at the Commonwealth Games.

The 4x100m relay team trudged embarrassingly out of the competition when Mark Lewis-Francis set off too early on the last leg of their first-round heat and failed to take the baton from Marlon Devonish.

Immediately BBC pundit Michael Johnson launched a withering attack on Britain's sprinters who have failed to win a single medal at these Games for the first time since 1974.

Johnson insisted they had lost their hunger and were enveloped in a British system which rewarded "mediocrity".

The answer, according to relay captain Darren Campbell, is his mentor Christie, even though the Olympic 100m gold medallist failed a drugs test after he had officially ended his career and was running at selected meetings.

It is one reason athletics chiefs have been reluctant to use his expertise, but a frustrated Campbell, who had given England a solid start along with Andrew Turner, was adamant.

"I've been blessed," said Campbell, who won Olympic silver in the 200m in Sydney as well as relay gold in Athens. "I've had Linford Christie my whole career. My success is not down to luck, it's not any surprise because I've had somebody like Linford behind me.

"Any problems I get I've got someone who was Olympic, World, Commonwealth, European champion to help me.

"I know Linford should be more hands-on, but that's not down to me. If you want to be successful Linford Christie is the way to go.

"I know if they had Linford it wouldn't be a problem because some of these guys are more talented than me.

"I believe he would take an official role but I'm not Linford Christie. If you're not sure about Linford's worth, then look at my record, that's his worth. The fact is certain things are out there if people open their eyes.

"The facts speak for themselves. Linford has coached me and I've been 12 years at the top and in every championship I've won a medal. That's not magic, it's like when a fighter goes out to fight you look to see who is in his corner. If you look in my corner, how can I not be successful. Failure is not an option."

Except that it has been at these Games when English sprinters have appeared to be jinxed.

First, Lewis-Francis was disqualified from the 100m semi-final after a naive false start.

Then Campbell was thrown out of the 200m for running outside his lane while Devonish finished last in the 100m final.

Now the final ignominy - a DNF, 'did not finish' - in the relay which England won in Manchester and in which Britain garnered gold in Athens.

So disappointed was Lewis-Francis that he sped past waiting reporters faster than he had moved on the track.

Campbell, to his credit, stayed to accept the harshest of criticism from former double Olympic sprint champion Johnson.

"Sometimes you have to hit the bottom and today we got to the last bottom possible," said Johnson. "He (Campbell) has had criticism from myself and for him to say - 'you're right' - you know how serious it is.

"You look at who is going to be next (in British sprinting) and there's nothing. Young athletes come along and show promise but, if they come up through this system, they will go the same way.

"You've got to break the whole thing up and start from scratch. You've got to look at it and say it hasn't worked. Drastic measures are needed."

Campbell offered a somewhat lame explanation that March was early in the year, they had not had enough races and none of the sprinters performing well in Melbourne was from cold countries.

But it was half-hearted and he knew it.

More resonant was his admission that they had "messed up" and should front up.

"Maybe it's time like Michael says to man up," said Campbell.

"I cry when I win and I get angry when I lose. I don't cry when I lose. Why? Because I should have done better. Michael Johnson is right, we need to do better."