UK Athletics have been forced to reveal that they pay their top officials a salary. The Governing Body went to the High Court in a desperate bid to block the Freedom of Information request submitted by popular running forum Eightlane. In dramatic proceedings late last night, we at the Lufbra Echo were blocked from revealing the names of the individuals at the centre of the controversy but can confirm that top members of staff are earning a “comfortable wage”. The news has sent shockwaves through the entire sport, with many calling for the immediate resignation of the entire UKA board. Under fire Chairman, Ed Warner, released a statement in the early hours of the morning pledging “absolute transparency” on the matter. “It is unfortunate that UKA has been forced to succumb to market forces and I am sorry to say that some of our staff members do get paid a salary,” said the clearly tired Warner, “we have had exhaustive talks on the matter and where we might go from here, but can tell you that nothing will be decided for at least a fortnight.” Under pressure from the pack of journalists outside Athletics House, Warner refused to rule out the possibility of other members of staff in the future also getting paid work from the Governing Body. The Chairman also defended UKA’s record pointing out the award that they received back in March. “We’re doing fine,” Warner kept repeating before heading back inside for “further talks” with other members of the board.
Many fans of the sport have said that they feel “let down” by UKA. Eightlane has been inundated with angry posters expressing “horrer [sic]” at the situation. The journalist who broke the story, one ‘Flabbergasted’ breathlessly asked “WTF does [unnamed official] do for his cash and what has he done thus far?” Feelings certainly then ran high, as stunned users could not reconcile the fact that some people in athletics received income from the sport: “he [one individual who gets paid] wasn;t [sic] recruited by a transparent process” thundered ‘Not UK Sport’. Meanwhile, ‘Truth’ branded the individual whom the Echo cannot name “an arrogant tosser” and opined, “he [mystery man] will be sacked by 2012”. ‘Jealous’ chose to attack the unnamed official’s dress sense, “he was dressed like a tramp on Sunday,” the anonymous poster helpfully pointed out, adding that the chief should “work on his image to gain some respect”.