Coates to remain chairman at the WPGET

Macclesfield, Cheshire, 18th May - Terry Coates backed down from a threat to resign as chairman of the Women Professional Golfers' European Tour (WPGET) today at an annual general meeting that lasted almost four hours.

Coates, 66, has been chairman of the WPGET since 1993 but threatened to resign earlier in the week when Gill Wilson, deputy executive chairman and himself had been severely cristised by some of the members for failing to strengthen the women's tour. Gill Wilson resigned immediately and vowed never to return.

"At the beginning of the week I had no intention of continuing but letters and telephone calls from around the world have touched my heart as well as my conscience," Wilson said. He added "I made certain requests to the board and they have been met and I will be continuing for the foreseeable future."

"I am hopeful that Gill Wilson's expertise, knowledge and experience gathered over the past ten years will not be lost to the Tour, but she will not come back to work as an employee," Coates said.