Rowing: Sponsorship issue behind sacking of twins' manager

3.50pm

Failure to secure a principal sponsor is believed to be a significant reason behind Olympic gold medal-winning rowers Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell sacking their manager Chris White.

White was dismissed last week in what Caroline Evers-Swindell described as an "amicable parting". She said the twins would be "better served" under new management.

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Craig Ross confirmed the twins had become frustrated with the lack of a major sponsor in their stable.

"They hadn't seen any commercial progress," Ross said. "Chris was doing a lot behind the scenes, but the major sponsors that had been put together for them had been done by Rowing NZ and their relationship was not working. I don't think it was anything personal."

The Evers-Swindells, also reigning world rowing champions, are among the hottest properties in New Zealand sport.

But Caroline said: "Georgina and I don't think about the cash. We don't row for the money, we never have."

White, who won a bronze at the Seoul Olympics in the coxed fours and a silver medal at the world championships in 1995, confirmed the split.

He said through a prepared statement to the Waikato Times today that he was "comfortable" with the work he had completed with the Evers-Swindells. He said some work still in progress provided them with a solid foundation for the coming years.

White also defended his management of the twins. "Right from the first day I became the twins' manager the clear goal for 2004 was winning gold at the Athens Olympic Games," he said in his statement.

White said media exposure was carefully chosen as was protection of their image.

It was reported yesterday that Rowing NZ and marketing consultants Tonia Cawood and a former chief executive of New Zealand Cricket Chris Doig would now handle the twins' finances, though that has been denied by Doig.

- NZPA