Crisis threatens grant

Cycling

British cycling's governing body could have a Sports Council grant of more than pounds 500,000 withdrawn if they fail to resolve their leadership crisis.

Jonathan O'Neill, the Sports Council spokesman, issued the warning yesterday before a British Federation emergency national council meeting in Manchester tomorrow, when 70 delegates will be asked to endorse the board's vote of no confidence in the president, Tony Doyle.

The board want the meeting to cancel Doyle's appointment and to elect a caretaker chairman until the next full national council meeting in November. But counter-proposals will seek to pass votes of no confidence in the board and to demand the resignations of three directors.

Doyle, the former world pursuit champion, was elected president in December after an acrimonious campaign against Ian Emmerson, the former incumbent. A row erupted when Doyle - who acts as a consultant for the Sport for Television Group - was asked to resign just three weeks after his election because of an alleged failure to declare commercial interests.