The disappointment in Milan followed last year's performance at the Olympics in Beijing when the team won three medals, a gold and two bronze, their best performance for more than half-a-cenutry.

McGuigan said: "While this might raise alarm bells coming 12 months after Britain's most successful Olympic Games for 50-odd years, it shouldn't."

McGuigan fought for Ireland in the 1980 Moscow Olympics and turned professional a year later so knows that there is always a quick turnover of talent in the amateur ranks.

He said: "Six of the eight boxers in Britain's elite squad turned professional following the Beijing Games.

"This is the way it is here, where the incentive is to turn pro rather than become a career amateur.

"The amateur set-up was overhauled after China.

"The regime of head coach Terry Edwards was ousted in favour of a new system headed by Kevin Hickey and head trainer Kelvin Travis.

"They are bringing on new lads.

"It takes time to make the leap from national titles to top rank international competition."

McGuigan is confident, however, that there is enough young talent coming through ranks in Britain for the country to look forward to a successful 2012.

He said: "The truth is England has some fantastic talent coming through, like Luke Campbell (pictured), who boxed beautifully to win bantamweight gold at the Europeans last year.

"Last month Repton's Martin Ward won featherweight gold at the European youth championships in Poland.

"These boys are gaining experience with every competition.

"You cannot succeed in every championship for any number of reasons, not least inconsistency in judging."

"The countdown to 2012 begins nine months out.

"That is when Hickey wants his team oiled and reaching a peak.

"The impact of the upheaval at the ABA cannot be overstated.

"The coaches have had to establish their own protocols while accommodating a change in format which has seen the four two-minute round system revert to three threes.

"This requires a different approach to training and preparation.

"I have seen enough of these youngsters to be hugely encouraged about our Olympic prospects.

"By 2012 the experiences in Milan, where only two boxers made it to the last eight, will have been put to use.

"Every defeat is part of a steep learning curve.

"They already know where the major threats are going to come from, namely Cuba, Russia, China and Kazakhstan.

"Beyond that Italy, Ireland and the United States are strong.

"The time to count the medals is three years away.

"Let's see what London brings."


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