Butterworth admits atmosphere tense at Alinghi

7.45am

Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth admits his relationship with syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli is strained.

Former skipper Russell Coutts, sacked this week, claimed a clash with Bertarelli was behind his departure from the America's Cup team.

The team said Coutts was fired because he failed to fuflfill his contractual duties.

However, Butterworth insists he will be sticking with the America's Cup holders as the issue is with Coutts and Bertarelli and that is where it stops.

Following the sacking of Coutts, Butterworth says his relationship with Bertarelli needs patching up.

He says it is a problem he has to get his head around.

He added: "It is going to take a while to work through it. The situation is still not over."

He expects the other New Zealand members at Alinghi will stay, and that includes Warrick Fleury, Simon Daubney and Murray Jones.

- NEWSTALK ZB