According to a press release from Alinghi Holdings, the Swiss America’s Cup holders, Team Alinghi, has been left with no choice but to terminate its contract with Russell Coutts.

The news release stated: “Russell Coutts specifically refused to helm Alinghi in Newport, United States, whereas he was requested to do so. He also decided not to sail with Team Alinghi crew at recent regattas, namely in Marstrand, Sweden, Trieste, Italy and Lisbon, Portugal where the regattas are about to commence. This constitutes a clear violation of his employment contract. Furthermore, in various press statements made early July, he declared that he was no longer part of the Alinghi Team.”

Alinghi Holdings is also concerned with Coutts’ undisclosed involvement in the planning and development of a new race series which they say is ‘a commitment incompatible with his responsibilities and duties.”

In Tim Jeffery’s report in the Daily Telegraph this morning Coutts was reported to have commented: “It’s an attack for sure.”