NEWPORT amateur boxing star Sean McGoldrick is hopeful that a solution can be reached to the “political conflicts” that led to the British Lionhearts being withdrawn from next season’s World Series of Boxing.

The sport’s world governing body the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) withdrew the Lionhearts franchise from WSB earlier this week.

AIBA said in a statement: “AIBA/WSB have been greatly disappointed to witness some political conflicts amongst the home nations and have thus decided to withdraw the participation of the WSB British franchise until the situation is cleared.”

McGoldrick, who won bantamweight gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, was a key part of the Lionhearts team last season alongside fellow Welsh aces Fred Evans and Andrew Selby.

London 2012 silver medalist Evans has announced his intention to join the professional ranks and European champion Selby will take part in APB – the new rival to WSB, which allows amateurs to be paid for competing while retaining their Olympic eligibility.

But McGoldrick does not want to join APB as it will not allow him to defend his Commonwealth crown in Glasgow next year.

The 21-year-old believes that there is still hope for the Lionhearts but admits he may also consider competing as a guest fighter for other WSB franchises.

“I was gutted to hear the news about the Lionhearts,” said McGoldrick from the Great Britain training base in Sheffield.

“It would be a real shame if we cannot compete in WSB again because it was a great experience for us boxers.

“But I have been told there is still a chance that it could be resolved so hopefully that is the case.

“If that doesn’t happen then I could potentially compete for another team like the Irish boxers did last year.”

For now McGoldrick is focusing on this year’s amateur world championships and on retaining his gold medal at Glasgow 2014.

“The Worlds and then Glasgow next year is the main aim for me,” he said.

“That is why I’m not involved in APB because I really want to defend my Commonwealth gold.

“After that I’d love to go to the Olympics in Rio in 2016 but I might be tempted to go pro. I’ll wait and see what happens.”