A specialist judo academy is to be set up at a Midland university with the help of a top coach.
Mac Abbotts, former National Men's Team Judo Coach and Wolverhampton Judo Club coach, will be leading the project at the city's university.
He has been appointed the new British Judo High Performance Coach and will be based at the Walsall Sports Centre from September.
He will be responsible for training the top judo players and developing a judo academy with the university.
Mike Chamberlain, director of sport at the centre, based on Walsall Campus, said: "It's a very exciting development and will enhance the excellent growing reputation of the centre."
It was announced recently that Walsall Sports Centre will be used as a venue to train judo hopefuls for the 2012 Olympic Games.
