JAMES ROOM'S PREPARE FOR GLORY SPLITS FROM NAC AND MAY NOT RUN THIS YEAR

Promotor says he is working with other federations but nothing guaranteed for 2024 version

JAMES ROOM'S iconic Prepare for Glory show in Wolverhampton may not run this year after a row with the NAC.

Room, who teamed up with the federation last year after six years linked to the IBFA, told the NAC in November that he would never work with them again when he and another British athlete were disqualified from the NAC Universe in Germany for wearing the wrong trunks – despite spending time backstage with the president Eugene Laviscount.

In an exclusive interview with frontdouble.com soon to be published, Room said: "I went back down to see Eugene after being disqualified and asked him about it. He said, 'well, didn't you read the rules'?

"I said, 'read the rules? I've just been down here standing with you for an hour.

"If our UK president isn't going to stand up and say something to us straight away, or know the rules himself, then there's no good me sending competitors over to have the same thing done again.

"I've just basically told him [Laviscount], if you don't fight for me, then you can forget me getting competitors and me being part of the NAC.

"So we are no longer part of the NAC and the reason being [apart from the trunks issue] is that there was no team UK. We were one of the only countries with no team tracksuit, no team T-shirts to say we were from the UK.

"I even took Union Jack flags out there for Eugene to give to competitors when they were in the top five. It never happened. It just was wrong all the way through."

Asked what would happen with the show, normally held in May, Room said he had been talking to other federations but could even postpone it for a year to concentrate on his own competitive ventures.

He said: "I'm even considering taking a year away from me and bringing it back. Because, I'll be honest, I'd love to be able to concentrate on myself for a year."

The NAC have been contacted for comment.

FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH JAMES ROOM COMING SOON.