Herald on Sunday. By Dana Johanssen:
A furious Dean Barker has called in the lawyers as the bitter battle over his future with Team New Zealand intensifies.
Barker was left shell-shocked at leaks to media this week that he was to be axed as skipper of the America's Cup syndicate. His lawyers have written to the syndicate's board seeking a “please explain” over his treatment.
The campaign for the 2017 regatta in Bermuda was already mired in controversy over taxpayer funding, and now the Herald on Sunday has learned the relationship between Barker and syndicate boss Grant Dalton has been toxic for some time, and that they rarely speak. It emerged this week that Barker only learned he was to be replaced at the helm of Team New Zealand by young sailing star Peter Burling after reading it on Facebook.
Read also: Paul Lewis: Money at heart of Barker, TNZ imbroglio
That now appears unlikely, with the Herald on Sunday learning last night that Barker – left in tears after Team NZ's heartbreaking loss to Oracle in the 2013 America's Cup – is set to walk away from the crew if Dalton remains in charge of the syndicate.
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