Ego clashes threaten to wreck our relay hopes, says world indoor champion Richard Kilty

Richard Kilty believes his fellow British sprinters must put their personal differences aside (Getty Images)

British relay hopes at this summer's major championships depend on the leading sprinters getting over a clash of egos, according to world indoor champion Richard Kilty.

Tensions are high between Kilty's group, which includes Dwain Chambers and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey under coach Rana Reider, and Steve Fudge's athletes James Dasaolu and Adam Gemili. The two factions are barely on speaking terms despite all training in Loughborough.

Kilty said: "There were a couple of clashes of egos between the coaches and athletes. It's not friendly.

"They are all part of the British relay team and I think we all need to get along because if the quickest relay team were to be put out there you'd have two members of one group and two from the other group. We can smash the British record and challenge the Jamaicans and the Americans with that squad as long as we can work together."

Relay medals are a major goal for British Athletics at both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships this summer and Kilty added: "I'd love Adam and James to come into the relay squad because I know it would be a real success. The best option [would be] for everyone to swallow their pride and be professional."

One athlete is believed to have got another in a headlock before a race at the UK Indoor trials in Sheffield in February, and there was a second incident during training in Loughborough.

"Things have improved," said Kilty, who was crowned 60m indoor world champion in Sopot, Poland, in March. "I'm on speaking terms with the others but there's still tension between the other athletes in our group and their group and the two coaches.

"There are always rivalries so it is going to happen. I try to keep out of it. I can't afford to be getting involved with messes like that."