Lord Sebastian Coe may be forced to move into a "downstairs office" after the BOA announced they are to pursue funds they believe are owed to them by the organising committee. His Lordship is said to be "fuming" that such a drastic measure is being considered but insiders told the echo that they "have absolutely no choice". "Our funding is falling all the time" said the source "continuing to sustain a 2,000 square metre suite complete with a jacuzzi and personal masseuse is simply not sustainable". The office space - which is exclusively for the Lord's use - costs around £1m a week in rent alone.
Lord Coe - who insists on being called 'The Baron' by 2012 workers - revealed privately that he "would do anything" to avoid being "shoved downstairs with a bunch of nobodies". It is understood that the former 800m world record holder is pushing for the Paralympics to be "downsized" rather than sacrifice his much admired office. The committee's Deputy Director of Lord Coe's Ties (Radio Appearances, Northern Europe) told the echo that his boss was "getting desperate" and that he had "blown a gasket" when told that he could no longer claim nights out at London's Ritz Hotel on expenses.
These revelations come at the end of a difficult week for London 2012. The man in charge of organising the marathons, Dave Bedford, branded the Lord "unworkable" after it was suggested that the women's event could be "shortened in order to save time". Elsewhere, a delegation from the IOC were left stranded on a London Underground train fro 17 hours after workers walked out on strike and their guide "forgot all about them".