Coutts' salary up with soccer superstars says Bertarelli

By JULIE ASH

Alinghi head Ernesto Bertarelli has spoken out about the sacking of America's Cup winner Russell Coutts, claiming the New Zealander's salary ranked with those of the greatest footballers.

In an interview with the Swiss newspaper l'Hebdo, Bertarelli said he had remained silent until now because he did not want to engage in a "ping pong" match with someone who had been his friend.

"Russell Coutts' salary ranks among the top 20 in Switzerland. He is as well paid as the greatest football stars of today.

"I cannot divulge the terms of the contract but you'd be shocked. His salary does not lag behind that of the main Swiss CEOs," said Bertarelli, who is worth $11.4 billion, according to the Forbes Rich List.

The top Swiss CEO, Marcel Ospel, of Switzerland's largest bank, UBS, took home $20.5 million before bonuses last year, according to a Wall Street Journal survey.

The average Swiss CEO earned $5.02 million, rising to $9.3 million after bonuses, shares and stock options.

By comparison England skipper David Beckham earned $41.1 million.

Coutts, the most successful helmsman in America's Cup history, was fired in July "for repeated violations of his duties", said Bertarelli.

A rewrite of the America's Cup protocol prevents Coutts from joining another syndicate for the 2007 regatta.

Coutts, who is understood to have wanted more say in the running of the event, claimed his role in Alinghi was at "considerable variance" with the one they had discussed during and since the last America's Cup.

But Bertarelli told the paper: "It was clear from the beginning that if we were to win the cup, we would create two operational companies: Team Alinghi that would be in charge of the team, reporting to Russell, and America's Cup Management headed by Michel Bonnefous, which would be in charge of managing the event.

"It was Russell himself who defended this idea, which is why his subsequent about-face puzzles me."

Bertarelli said it had been clear by February that Coutts was no longer committed to Alinghi.

"He came to my office and told me, 'I am not motivated any more. I won the cup three times. I have other projects. I would like to quit."

"He gave me his resignation, but I refused to accept it.

"He had total control on Alinghi. He was the one who decided to forgo the operational aspects."

Coutts said last night from Italy that he had not seen the article.

He said he never resigned and was surprised Bertarelli had discussed his salary.

"We are in an arbitration process at the moment ... Basically I am looking forward to dealing with the issues in the proper manner."