By JULIE ASH and NZPA
America's Cup defenders Alinghi have denied claims that skipper Russell Coutts has been fired after a bust-up with syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli.
Alinghi spokesman Bernard Schopfer said he had fielded about 200 phone calls since the website sailinganarchy posted a report saying Coutts and Bertarelli had fallen out and Coutts had been sacked.
"Russell remains in charge of sailing but exact job titles have yet to be decided," Schopfer said.
"We are in the process of slight changes and probably [design team co-ordinator] Grant Simmer will take more responsibility in the management of the team, so Russell can concentrate more on the sailing."
The sailing website came to its conclusion after the Swiss syndicate hired former Oracle helmsman Peter Holmberg and Coutts was absent at the Moet Cup against Oracle in San Francisco in September and then at last week's venue announcement in Geneva.
It also reported Simmer had been touted to replace Coutts because he had Bertarelli's trust and confidence.
"America's Cup teams have many helmsmen," Schopfer said. "This rumour started because Russell gave the helm to Jochen [Schumann] in San Francisco and then when the next cup venue was announced Russell was not there. He did not need to be."
The website also reported that at the venue announcement Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth "was grumbling to anyone who would listen about how America's Cup management had taken over the cup from Coutts and Co with the approval of Bertarelli".
Following Alinghi's win over Team New Zealand to lift the cup in Auckland this year, an independent company, America's Cup Management, headed by former Alinghi executive director Michel Bonnefous, was set up to organise the event.
With Switzerland being a landlocked country, its first job was to find a venue for the next event.
Alinghi had no say in the selection.
Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Alinghi deny Coutts sacked
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