Inside Lines: Australian is tipped as Cassani's chief aide

Those who think having an American as leader of London's Olympic bid is a bit off the wall should hang on to their hats. It is quite possible that the bid organisation's chief executive - the real linchpin of the operation - will be an Aussie. The man being touted as the best candidate for the job is one who helped mastermind the Sydney Olympics. Craig McLatchey, formerly chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee, was a senior director of the Sydney Games and is currently working with the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne. "He has the perfect credentials and will certainly be approached," says one of the central figures in the London bid. "The problem is he has terrific job with the IOC, and it might be difficult to tempt him away." Doubtless Barbara Cassani will try, as she says she is "looking for someone who has a very strong passion for sport and a tremendous organisational track record". She adds: "If there are any interested parties out there, now is the time to send in your CVs." One which might catch her eye is that of Howard Wells, a former chief executive of UK Sport and a couple of Premiership clubs who, as chairman of the CCPR, has revitalised that conservative body. One Briton who definitely will play a role for Bidco, probably as Cassani's deputy when they begins operations with a 30-strong staff from the 50th floor of Canary Wharf, is Charles Allen, who led the Commonwealth Games team and would have been first choice as chairman but for his heavy involvement in the ongoing Carlton-Granada merger. Once this is settled, he tells me: "I'll be happy to help in any way."

More aggro as angry Audley biffs the Beeb

A miffed Audley Harrison has arrived in the United States, where he intends to restart his controversial career. Last night he was at the Los Angeles ringside for Lewis v Klitschko, and the probability is that the first fight of his new American venture will be staged by Lewis's Lion Promotions. Harrison is clearly enraged by the Boxing Board's decision to fine him twice as much as Herbie Hide following the York Hall brawl, and has launched a bitter attack on his BBC paymasters, claiming it was all their fault for inviting the volatile Hide to the ringside. Moreover, he also seems deeply unhappy over recent negotiations with the Beeb for another long-term contract. "The funny thing is I am supposed to be their golden nugget, and their constant and blatant disregard for my feelings or career definitely contributed to my decision to base myself overseas." Ouch! The BBC say they are "surprised" by his comments, especially as they have agreed to screen his next three bouts from the US. But how much longer this waning glove affair lasts seems highly debatable.

Timely reminder that Olympics are kids' stuff

The cleverly orchestrated Thameside demonstration by the Coin Street kids - noisily protesting at being deprived of local playing fields - which almost torpedoed the shambolic media launch of London 2012's bid leader was an ironic postscript to an earlier comment by Barbara Cassani. "The children of Britain need to get into the pool and on to the track, because in 2012 they'll be competing for gold - in London," she had declared. Well, they might be if facilities can be provided to hone their skills. Ms Cassani may also care to note that an Olympian effort is required to save the English Schools Athletics Championships, cradle of many champions, now facing a shutdown because of lack of funding.

Having survived the reshuffle ("by the skin of my teeth, I reckon," he remarked self-deprecatingly to me last week), Richard Caborn is set to become the longest-serving sports minister since Denis Howell. Obviously it was felt that some stability is now needed, and changing ministers would have sent out all the wrong signals for the Olympic bid.

His only serious rival was Watford supporter and Guardian columnist Claire Ward, but her opposition to the bid ruled her out, so Caborn can now get on with the job of dealing with matters of sporting state. Given the boss's vote of confidence, we can expect to see him taking a firmer line on issues like drugs, shaking up governing bodies and trying to establish a professional body for coaches. Although he may never qualify as a contender for A Question Of Sport, Yorkshireman Caborn has grown into the job, and his talent for networking will be an asset to the London bid. So why, when we need a full-time sports minister, has he been lumbered with another portfolio - tourism?

The decision by UK Athletics to endorse the drugs-tainted former East German coach Dr Ekkart Arbeit as adviser to Denise Lewis seems to confirm the view that the body is soft-pedalling on doping matters, fearing costly litigation.

It is also raising concerns that it could have an adverse effect on London's Olympic hopes, in view of the IOC's strong anti-doping stance. "This is a matter for UK Athletics, but we do expect them to take a tough line on drugs," says the sports minister. However, in mitigation for their support of Arbeit, UK Athletics could cite the case of another East German who was around in that era, Jürgen Grobler, coach to Sir Steve Redgrave et al, whose credibility has never been questioned.

insidelines@independent.co.uk

Exit Lines

If it had been an England player we'd still have been in Wellington and probably all be locked up. Coach Clive Woodward, furious that All Blacks stamper Ali Williams escaped punishment... You Englishmen on your little island. Katarina Witt chides a BBC interviewer who admitted not knowing what she had done after her Olympic skating successes... We left the hall with more physical injuries than his last 11 opponents combined. Fight fan Ellen Bach tells Boxing News how she and her sister were caught up in the Audley Harrison post-bout brawl.