Linford Christie took another slap in the face from within British athletics' ranks today as former business partner John Regis launched his own management company, Stellar Athletics Ltd, to nurture the country's best talent.
Christie's Nuff Respect company has lost Regis and three of the brightest current British stars, Dwain Chambers, Julian Golding and Tony Jarrett , who have all switched allegiance.
This latest blow for the 1992 Olympic 100 metres champion follows a war of words with Sebastian Coe last week when the latter questioned Christie's suitability as a role model to the next generation of aspiring athletes.
The emergence of the track and field arm of Stellar Promotions and Management Ltd - due to a void in professional management in the sport, according to company director Jonathan Barnett - is a slight in itself, Regis' involvement aside.
Fellow former athletes Ayo Falola and Jennifer Stoute are Regis' new business colleagues and they have pledged to leave their athletes free to concentrate on track performances while they take care of off-field activities, like sponsorship deals and tax bills.
"Linford and I are not the closest of friends but that's totally irrelevant with our new business ventures now," said Regis.
"That's the reality of business. There are a lot of people that you don't like in the business world but that's life.
"I left Nuff Respect because this opportunity arose and it was something that interested me and I thought I could do well in.
"I believe this company has given me an opportunity to create a management structure that will revolutionise management in this country and probably the world.
"If you take away everything else that causes a distraction, the athletes can just concentrate on performing. "It's going to be about the performance on the track and not outside factors that crop up.
"I just want to manage athletes as I would have wanted to be managed when I was competing," added the former British sprint star. - PA