Rugby's PR genius demoted

Richard Prescott, the RFU's arrogant and inept communications manager, has been demoted.

It's the best public relations move by the RFU in years. Although Prescott regards himself as a PR genius (remember this quote from an earlier post: "The RFU has a structure for media access that has even been used by the media as a template when dealing with other governing bodies") his employers' patience has run out with him.

The RFU top brass have had to endure numerous PR disasters as well as complaints about Prescott from the chief rugby writers of national newspapers, radio and TV.

Do we need to list all the PR gaffes? Well, here goes...Danny Cipriani being dropped/ Andy Robinson's sacking/ rape allegations in New Zealand/ Brian Ashton's sacking/ recruitment of Martin Johnson/ club v country row.

All these episodes cast the RFU in a very bad light, largely because the RFU failed to get their point across to the media.

As one senior RFU source told Undercover Sport: "All Richard ever does is send out a shitty email, rather than speaking to journalists."

The final straw for the RFU was Ashton's exit, which saw the governing body get panned for its treatment of the Lancastrian.

The RFU has now, finally, decided to recruit a PR expert, leaving Prescott to deal solely with the England team.

He could still cause some considerable damage there. Good luck Martin Johnson.

Rusedski return a ruse

GB Davis Cup captain John Lloyd has rubished reports that Greg Rusedski is to make a shock return to the team.

The story was in Monday's Times, by respected tennis journalist Neil Harman, and the source was...Lloyd's brother David.

John Lloyd told Undercover Sport that the story was "complete nonsense" and that he was amazed to hear about it. I bet he's not too happy with his motormouth sibling.

Joorabchian offers Tevez to Man City

Despite his declarations to the contrary, Kia Joorabchian has been offering striker Carlos Tevez to Manchester City.

Tevez is still yet to sign a permanent deal with Manchester United and his loan deal with them expires in the summer.

A senior source at City told Undercover Sport: "Kia has been telling us we can have Tevez if we want him. It hasn't been raised at an official level, but it's something that has been raised at the dinner table."

That's the truth, even though Joorabchian has been telling the newspapers, such as his personal newsletter... I mean favoured publication, the Daily Mail, to the contrart.

Joorabchian is very close to Mail sports editor Lee Clayton, which is why you will always see favourable coverage of the businessman and his clients in the paper.

It's why they write glowing pieces about Thaksin Shinawatra, a man described by Human Rights Watch as "a human rights abuser of the worst kind", yet someone who has had a close working relationship with Joorabchian.

It's why they have the inside track on "the Carlos Tevez affair" and have access to damaging information about West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury, with whom Joorabchian has personal animosity.

Joorabchian wields increasing power in the Premier League, yet he stamps on anything other than favourable coverage.

On Tuesday evening, his lawyers issued a letter to all major media outlets warning that they could be sued if they made defamatory comments about him in their coverage of the Carlos Tevez story.

The letter insisted that Joorabchian did not own in whole or in part Tevez or his compatriot Javier Mascherano.

Blogs that have been critical of Joorabchian, questionning the source of his wealth and claiming links to Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, have now been removed from the internet, under threat of legal action.

Here is someone who wields power, yet does not seem accountable.

Lloyd and Bates had harsh words for Bogo

Perhaps it wasn't surprising that Alex Bogdanovic, who has a history of choking on the big occasion, was again the fall guy as Britain were beaten by Austria in the Davis Cup.

Yet it was a surprise that the British number two was chosen in the first place. It serves to show how desperate a state British tennis is in at the moment.

Back in June 2006, after Britain had lost to Israel and Bogo had again flopped, Lloyd, who was touting himself as an ideal replacement for Jeremy Bates as captain, was scathing.

"Alex has not performed well at all - it's not just how he's hit the ball, but the whole presence he brings onto the court," he seethed.

"His body language was not good and he seemed to accept defeat way too early. He sent everyone in the crowd to sleep.

"When you have someone who has a suspect temperament, you shouldn't assume they will play.

"You need to look the player in the eye and say: 'Do you really want to play this match?'

"I would much rather have someone who might not have the talent, but is willing to run through a brick wall for you.

"To be fair, I haven't spent any time with him, but if I did have some involvement he'd have to spend some serious time with me and convince me he wanted to play.

"There would have to be a lot of proving before I think he could be put in again.

"Never say never, but there would have to be a lot of convincing."

Bates still blames Bogo for that Israel defeat, which led him to resign.

Bates told Undercover Sport that Bogo has "a heart the size of a pea" and is "completely gutless".


Ouch!

Back tarnished by Loffreda treatment

For Neil Back's sake, let's hope he is getting more help from his coaches at Leeds than he gave Marcelo Loffreda at Leicester last season.

Back made Loffreda's life impossible from the moment the Argentinian arrived at Welford Road, undermining him to the players and refusing to go along with any of his suggestions.

Loffreda handed a season review to the Leicester board in June. The main recommendation was that Back and fellow coach Richard Cockerill must leave the club if Loffreda was to stay.

The Argentinian was fired the next day. Back later left for Leeds, fulfilling his long-held ambition of being a head coach.

It doesn't reflect well on the former England forward that he treated Loffreda in such an underhand and petulant manner because of this ambition.

West Ham execs in the spotlight

Alan Curbishley might not be the last high-profile casualty at West Ham.

Chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani are also under pressure to deliver.

The future of Duxbury, in particular, hangs in the balance following a series of gaffes.

First of all, he presided over the club's disastrous dealings with Carlos Tevez, which have already led to a substantial Premier League fine and an out-of-court settlement with Kia Joorabchian.

Sheffield United are also suing the Hammers, which could lead to a huge, multi-million pound payout.

And it has now emerged that he allowed a clause to be inserted in Alan Curbishley's contract, guaranteeing him the final say over players sales and purchases.

That doesn't seem to have happened and Curbs is planning to sue the club for constructive dismissal.

A senior source at the club told Undercover Sport: "It is up to Scott and Gianluca to prove they can manage the resources we have already given them.

"They haven't proved that yet. Until they do, we won't be investing serious funds in the playing squad."