Hockey

Glen Hanlon has stepped down as the head coach of the Belarusian national hockey team, four months before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Hanlon's decision comes two weeks after he was fired as the head coach of Dinamo Minsk of the Russian KHL. At the time, Hanlon indicated he would remain on as the national team coach but has since had a change of heart.

"After a serious and careful consideration, I have decided that it would be better for the team and its performance if I left," Hanlon said at a press conference in Minsk.

Hanlon had guided Belarus to a sixth place finish at the World Hockey Championships in 2006 - the best ever showing for the country in international competition. In 2009, he returned to the national team, taking over from Curt Fraser, and guided Belarus to an eighth place result. Both times, he was named Coach of the Year for his efforts.

A successor to Hanlon has yet to be announced but Belarusian Ice Hockey Association boss Vladimir Naumov did not believe the change would negatively affect the team's Olympic preparation.

"To be honest, Hanlon's decision was not a huge surprise for me," Naumov said. "I don't think that this will influence the national team, we have very skilled players. The new head coach will most likely be announced by early December."

Belarus has been placed in Group C for the Olympic tournament along with Sweden, Finland and Germany.