UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins has attributed the poor showing of English athletes at the Commonwealth Games to a "lack of joined-up thinking" in preparing them for the competition.

A hugely disappointing Games performance in track and field events culminated in the highly-fancied English 4x100 metres relay team failing to go beyond the heats after a mix-up in the baton exchange as Mark Lewis-Francis prepared to run the final leg.

Collins' organisation had no input into the selection and preparation of the team, as they would for Great Britain squads competing in the Olympics, the World Championships or the European Championships, even though a number of athletes are funded through UKA's world-class performance and development programmes.

Instead, the home nations each have separate selection committees, with Chris Carter chairing the English panel.

UKA chief Collins has now called for his organisation to have greater input, as is the case with their equivalent bodies in swimming and cycling where the home nations have enjoyed notable success.

Collins said: "The selection and the preparation of the athletes at the Commonwealth Games is currently not UK Athletics' responsibility.

"This lack of joined-up thinking has already been identified as a major problem. I look forward to the opportunity to work with colleagues in the home country Commonwealth Games committees and move to a system more akin to that used by cycling and swimming - a system that has been demonstrably successful."

Collins defended his decision not to attend the Games in Melbourne, and believes what he has seen has merely reinforced his view that changes are needed in how athletes are selected and prepared for the event.

"The athletes and the coaches themselves know that today's 4x100m relay performance was completely unacceptable," he added.

"It comes on the back of other poor sprint performances that will need to be countered by success in the European Championships.

"Sport is a hard taskmaster and these guys have to start serving.

"Much of the criticism has been justified and focuses on the systems and processes which need to be in place in order to ensure our athletes - not just sprinters - are performing to the highest possible standard.

"Whilst the Commonwealth Games have been taking place I have been working hard to put these systems in place. Although some people have questioned my choice of not attending the games, it has certainly been time better spent than sitting in the stands at the MCG viewing yet more evidence of problems we know exist.

"It has been a pleasure to see the proof of these system changes in the performances of our younger athletes, who are rising to the challenge."