LOUGHBOROUGH 'ARROGANCE' ANGERS BULDARO

Bud Buldaro has called on BUCS chiefs to hand Loughborough "severe sanctions" after what he called "unbelievable" scenes at today's BUCS Championship. Birmingham's top man was left seething after African Violet fans invaded the track in the wake of a sensational 4x400m victory thus confirming Loughborough's retention of the BUCS title for another year. "We hadn't even seen the photo finish" thundered an irate Buldaro "how can they do that? It's very poor". The usually composed Buldaro added that he "would be ashamed" of his team if they behaved in such a manner.

Buldaro also denied that he felt any pressure having failed to deliver the title yet again. "The fact is that we won the BUCS Cross" he snapped "it's a work in progress. I'm here to knock Loughborough off that bloody high horse they stand on once and for all." Buldaro refused to criticise his athletes and dismissed allegations that they had "let him down" and "bottled the big occasion". "You look all over the park and the guys are getting into good positions" said Buldaro "I thought we showed great character in the face of some very strange officiating today and throughout the weekend".

Birmingham fans flooded radio phone ins on the way home pleading with Buldaro to spend some money to firm up his ailing squad. "We look at our sprinters and that's where we lose it" said a lifelong fan "I can't keep watching us throw competitions like this away because we can't sprint. I know Bud has the money and now it's time to spend some". Other fans laughed at their Director's remarks that they could capture the title in 12 months time: "we're so far off it right now, I could cry" said a season ticket holder.

Meanwhile, Guru George Gandy hailed a "magnificent effort" from his Loughborough team. Gandy was barred from Bedford after being handed a touchline ban for his remarks following the BUCS Cross Country. "Everyone stepped up" beamed Gandy from Font Romeu "it was a superb display. To see people like Stephen Emery and Ryan McLeod continue to achieve despite their advancing years is a credit to their professionalism". Gandy dismissed Buldaro's comments as "bad sportsmanship". "Bud has always been a bad loser" sighed the Guru "I don't think it sets a good example to be honest, but there is not a lot you can do about it".

DONALDSON BLASTS 'HOPELESS' BUCS SET UP

With George Gandy away on urgent guru business he has left his press conferences to his Executive PA, Alasdair Donaldson - who has wasted no time in calling for an "urgent review" of the BUCS hierarchy. Furious that start lists were "going up too late" and the "wind was too strong", Donaldson wondered whether there was "any point in Loughborough turning up for the rest of the Championships".

"You want the officials to get the big things right" thundered the irate Scot (who doesn't have time to read this blog) "I'm afraid that wasn't the case today. Where was the finish line technology? We were lucky that it didn't cost us - but mark my words they will get a really major decision wrong by Monday and then we'll all be talking about it". The Newham and Essex Beagle went on to state that he "clearly saw" Mick Woods of St Mary's going into the officials' changing area and "leave with a big smile on his face".

Donaldson - who both Loughborough and UKA have hurriedly distanced themselves from - then voiced his "utter disgust" at the preferential treatment offered to the Birmingham representatives. "Did you see the plush holding area they get?" stormed the tea specialist "whilst Ian [Anholm], David [Howe] and I shiver in the wind. It's a total joke - beyond the pale". Bud Buldaro and his officials have been granted exclusive access to the VIP lounge at Bedford after Buldaro slammed the coffee provision at last year's event. "I don't know if it is because they have Kukri on their vests" Donaldson continued "or it's because everyone likes Birmingham, but something's wrong when you see so many decisions going their way. It's very poor".

BUCS have dismissed Donaldson's comments as "hysteria" and have clarified that no bribes were received from Mick Woods and that Bud Buldaro had "won a competition" granting him special treatment for the duration of the Championships.

On the track, Loughborough survived a scare from Kieran Flannery who was nearly knocked out in the heats of the 800m after easing up well before the line, whilst self-proclaimed pre-race favourite Stephen Emery qualified with ease for the final of the 5,000m.

BULDARO READY FOR BUCS CHALLENGE

Bud Buldaro has said that his Birmingham team are "the strongest in years" ahead of this weekend's BUCS Cross Country Championships. Buldaro will not announce his team until tomorrow evening but was in a bullish move this lunchtime. "Loughborough are as poor as I have ever seen them" said the velvet tongued head coach "and I think the majority of the St Mary's team are busy re-taking their exams. I can't see anyone getting close to Birmingham". The manager will be hoping his side will be able to defend their title on home soil this Saturday afternoon.

Buldaro was largely dismissive of a very quiet transfer window for his team. Birmingham were not successful in landing Stephen Emery - despite a rumoured £40m bid - and also had an approach for Gary Bradbury rejected. "I don't need to strengthen my team" said Buldaro "I always think that the January transfer window is just about panicking to be honest. You look at weaker sides and they see the summer coming and think 'gee, we need to get more guys in'. Nonsense, I back my lot". Buldaro denied that the Emery deal had fallen through after the Vice Chancellor vetoed it and maintained that he had "complete control" of team affairs.

News for Birmingham got even better this evening as a spokesman revealed that Nick Goolab had "completely recovered" from a broken toe nail and was therefore available this weekend. "Nick had a blood test at the beginning of this week" said the source "and it is all clear. If selected, he will line up on Saturday".

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GANDY TO RESIGN OVER MATTHEWS SELECTION

Loughborough Athletics club has been plunged into turmoil this evening after its director, George Gandy announced that he would resign as he "had no option" but to select Pete Matthews for the 'A' Team at the forthcoming BUCS Cross Country Championships. "I have had some dark moments in my career" said the Guru from a hastily arranged press conference "but this is as low as it has come. It is a very sad day and I must say I never thought it would come to this".

Loughborough insiders have revealed how Gandy "had an almighty row" at the selection meeting last night and was seen storming out of the HiPac shortly after 10pm. Alasdair Donaldson - who does not have time to read this site - attempted to go after him carrying a freshly made cup of tea but was unable to talk the Guru round. "His mind is made up" said the source "George is just so embarrassed that he has to pick Matthews that he can't carry on. He said that the buck stops with him and he is intent on going over it".

Matthews has not been without his problems in the past twelve months. It was not long ago that the Lufbra Echo revealed that he had no future in the East Midlands and many are stunned that the disgraced AAAs fraudster has been included in the first wave of selection. "It's a horrible day for Loughborough" said a season ticket holder "it is a mark of how bad things have got. I doubt we'll get in the top 10 now - we certainly don't deserve to." The Echo understands that the team at Loughborough have "done all they can" to avoid selecting Matthews including begging his academic department to terminate - or at least suspend - his studies. "In the end, he was the only choice" continued a senior aide to the Guru "it devalues the rich history that this institution has".

Gandy will vacate his post at 0600 on Monday paving the way for Alasdair Donaldson to take caretaker charge of the club. Loughborough chiefs have stressed that this is "an extremely temporary measure" and that Gandy's current PA will "never be left unsupervised" with the club. The recruitment process to find Gandy's successor will start immediately and not include the Scot who will revert to his tea-making role once someone is in post. Bookmakers have tipped Birmingham's top man Bud Buldaro for the job, but have refused to rule out what would be a sensational promotion for out of favour St Mary's chief, Mick Woods.

HOWE FACES UKA CHARGE

David Howe is likely to face a lengthy touchline ban and heavy fine after being 'sent to the car' at this afternoon's Birmingham League Division One meeting at Coventry. The Loughborough Assistant Coach was dismissed by the match referee after constantly berating officials over what he called a "laughable piece of marshalling". Howe was left seething when the organisers slightly tweaked the course from previous years in order to maximise the conditions. The Canadian was given his marching orders roughly three minutes into the second half of the race after an altercation with the fourth official.

UKA have confirmed that he will be handed an automatic three race suspension after seeing red, but could face a further charge of "using foul and abusive language" that could lead to a ban of up to 12 weeks. Speaking after the race, Howe conceded that he had "spoken out of turn" by resisted any suggestion that he had used bad language. "That isn't something I would do," said Howe "I admit that I was upset at the way the match was going. I think that it was a bit big for the race referee to be honest, but I should have kept those thoughts to myself."

In a move that is unlikely to win him any friends at UKA, the academic added that he was "becoming increasingly concerned" at the weak officiating seen at recent events. His comments come just days after Bud Buldaro voiced worries over the degree to which officials were influenced by Guru Gandy in the run up to BUCS. "If anything decisions seem to go against us" said Howe "I am not sure how Bud can say that. It is no secret that UKA officials seem to have it in for Loughborough and Loughborough athletes - you just need to look at the way Lewis Moses was treated in the summer. It's very poor and I think it confirms that we need to have another look at race officiating."

NEWS ROUND UP

BULDARO CALLS FOR "STRONGER" OFFICIALS AT BUCS

Birmingham Director of Athletics has called on UKA and BUCS to clamp down on what he calls the "blatant bating of the officials" by fierce rival George Gandy. Buldaro - who is looking to defend the BUCS title on home soil - has said that he is concerned that some "strange" comments from the Guru and Director at Loughborough will sway race stewards on the day. "Look, we all know that the officials have a really really tough job" said Buldaro from a press conference "and they are not helped by certain Directors constantly railing against them. That is a fact. I only hope they can put it out of their minds on the day." For his part, the Guru issued a statement calling the accusations "ludicrous" adding that "they [the remarks] were a sign of the pressure Bud is under". 

THOMPSON HIT WITH CAT INJURY
Chris Thompson faces a spell on the sidelines after being "seriously scratched" by his pet cat, Jemma. The European Silver Medallist required hospital treatment after the cat pounced on him shortly after being fed her breakfast. A spokesman for the athlete said that it was "unlikely" to effect his training too greatly adding that Jemma would be dispatched for a "full claw clipping" and that he hoped that this would help the news desk on a slow day.

EIGHTLANE SILENT ON MCLEOD RUN
Always known to be even handed with their criticism popular running forum for the intellectually challenged, Eightlane have remained eerily and surprisingly quiet on Ryan McLeod's eleventh place (3rd Brit home) at the Edinburgh Cross Country event held last weekend. High praise was lauded on many who fell short of one of the best performances of McLeod's career. One can be sure it is nothing to do with the fact that the very same forum frothed with rage at McLeod's inclusion in the European Cross Country team just last month with one poster wondering whether UKA were getting "value for money" with McLeod's recent trip to Kenya.

EMERY 'FED UP' WITH LOUGHBOROUGH REGIME

Stephen Emery could be on the brink of a shock move to Birmingham after telling his advisers not to enter into discussions about the renewal of his contract at Loughborough. The 3:48 1500m man is said to be "very upset" after not receiving a personal email of congratulations from Guru George Gandy after his recent Birmingham League success and has always had a soft spot for the velvet tongued Bud Buldaro. The Lufbra Echo also understands that Emery is still furious about the new arrangements surrounding physio vouchers that have been introduced by a rampaging Ian Anholm. The Director of Administrative Affairs (Upstairs Office) has limited all athletes to just five vouchers per term and Emery has slammed this decision as "unreasonable" and is rumoured to have left a "stroppy note" on Anholm's car windscreen.

"Stephen is tired at the moment" sighed a seemingly unconcerned George Gandy from his weekly press conference "I am sure that this is the hours of stretching are taking their toll and in the new year he will be refreshed and ready to commit his future to us." The fact that a possible Emery defection is headline news only serves to underline how far the unfancied engineer has come in the past eighteen months. Written off by many, Emery was criticised for his "handlebars" by assistant coach David Howe just over a year ago and was on the brink of being "moved on" from the club after a dismal summer campaign in 2009. Since then, the Coventry Godiva man has become a linchpin in Gandy's squad and however much LSAC protest otherwise, his loss would be catastrophic in the run up to the BUCS Cross Country Championships.

An Emery spokesman was keen to play down the rumours this evening and was instead focussing on the "ludicrous" decision by Pete Matthews to grow a pony tail for the aforementioned BUCS. "If anything it is Mr Matthews that is forcing Stephen to consider his position" said the source "living with him is an awful experience and I think anyone would get fed up of hearing about how he once medalled at the U6 National Cross Relays every single day".

Matthews is said to be growing the pony tail for "attention seeking purposes".

EMERY BUST UP LEAVES SEAWARD ON BRINK

Kevin Seaward is said to be "considering his options" after an almighty bust-up with Stephen Emery. It is rumoured that the Irishman - who claims to be in the shape of his life - is about to walk away from Loughborough after Emery insisted that the evening run group remain on campus yesterday evening. Observers have said that "there is no way back" for relations between the pair and given Emery's "obscene levels of power" in the East Midlands it is likely that this will force the former International out.

"Kevin is really really upset," said a Loughborough insider, "he had talks with George [Gandy] first thing this morning, but apparently there is little they can do: Emery has too much power." This is not the first time that the pair have clashed and with Seaward alleged to be caught up in a Facebook deletion row, it looks unlikely that he will remain at the club past the January transfer window. Potential suitors have been quick to express an interest despite the fact that Seaward has found it difficult to settle in Loughborough. Mick Woods at St Mary's and Bud Buldaro of Birmingham have both said that they were "following" the Seaward affair closely.

Emery - who maintains that he "has no need" for a coach - shows now signs of relinquishing his iron-like grip on the set-up at Loughborough. Anonymous sources have told the Lufbra Echo that the Coventry man is "given far too much say" on club affairs and implored the hierarchy to do something about it. "There are even rumours that he is going to restrict access to the track," said the source, "the new plyo mat is red because he demanded it that way and he has banned runs of less than 45 minutes." Emery refused to comment when contacted by the Echo but did revoke our campus press privileges for three months. If Emery's foul mouthed assault on a member of the Echo team is anything to go by, it is no surprise that the likes of Seaward are headed for the exit.

BUCS DAY TWO.....

Wind and rain may have battered Bedford today, but our guys remain resolute in bringing you all the action and gossip from BUCS......

COFFEE PROVISION MUST IMPROVE: BULDARO

Birmingham’s head coach, Bud Buldaro has hit out at what he calls “rancid” coffee served at Bedford’s stadium. “Have you tried it?” fumed the velvet tongued coach, “it’s dreadful. In this day and age you really do expect better. How can coaches be expected to go about their business when having to drink that rubbish?” Buldaro spent “several hours” with officials last night discussing the situation and revealed today that it would be “unlikely” to improve. Emerging from the talks in the early hours of the morning, he said “the trouble is they are stuck in their ways. They think that we have to have rubbish coffee at UK track events- well we don’t. It’s 2010, not 1910”.

BUCS chiefs would not comment officially this morning, but well placed sources have told the Lufbra Echo that Buldaro was “very angry” last night. “I think he was upset that Nick Goolab wore the wrong socks or something, but he was right up in the face of the meeting referee.” Our insider continued, “we don’t see anything really wrong with the coffee. If you don’t like it, then don’t drink it.”

OXBRIDGE BEMOAN ‘PLEB SITUATION’

Representatives of Britain’s two leading Universities, Oxford and Cambridge have complained that a growing number of “common people” are distracting them from their races. A spokesman for the two institutions said, “it’s so very tiresome. We can’t be expected to prepare fully for the 100 yard dash and the like if these imbeciles start charging around like school children.” One Oxford athlete was furious after a student from Essex University “maliciously” spilt a can of Red Bull over his copy of Hamlet. “If I don’t read Hamlet’s glorious soliloquy before racing then there is no point,” thundered the beaten 1500m semi-finalist, “that’s my season effectively over now. I am heartbroken.”

Oxbridge leaders have called for a “special call room” for individuals who have gained a minimum of 6 A graded A Levels. The source went on, “they have to study a reasonable course as well. We can’t have these simpletons who read ‘Sport Science’ coming in. Suitable attire will have to be worn and these ghastly iPods will be banned.” It is thought that Cambridge students have become particularly upset with the “repulsive culture of hugging your opponent at the end of the race.” One athlete said, “what has happened to the traditional hand shake? It’s not nice to have sweaty plebeians coming up and embracing you.”

It is unlikely that the complainers will garner much sympathy with the officials in charge of the event. A BUCS source said, “it’s outrageous. Just because they want to turn up in fancy dress and prance around in smoking jackets, they think they can boss everyone around. Well they can’t.” The insider went on to point out that the annual clash between Oxford and Cambridge in the Boat Race had “no quality whatsoever”. “Neither of those teams would get near the final of a BUCS event. They need to get over themselves.”

ATHLETE FAILS TO MAKE FINAL AFTER “NOT RUNNING QUICK ENOUGH” SHOCK

A middle-distance runner will not compete in the final of his event after “not running as quick” as other athletes in his semi-final. The athlete, who has asked to remain nameless, is said to be “an established name” on the athletics circuit and offered no excuse for his failure. When asked what went wrong, he left observers gob-smacked by conceding that he “probably wasn’t as good” as the people who beat him. One watcher said afterwards, “it was unbelievable- he virtually gave up. He could have blamed the wind, the pH level of the water here or the ridiculously bright vests that some athletes wear, but he didn’t.” Commentators have criticised the athlete for a “lack of fighting spirit”. Paula Radcliffe told the Echo that anybody worth their salt should have a “bank of excuses” at the ready. “It doesn’t matter what they are,” said one of the best Olympic failures of all time, “but there’s always a reason and you never, ever just say that you weren’t good enough.”

The shocking revelation comes as other athletes were less gracious and officials hurriedly released statements apologising for “unprecedented levels” of disappointment caused largely by the wind. “There has been a lot of upset today,” said an insider, “we are looking at erecting large screens in future because the wind has been such a pain today....we have had a lot of complaints.”