A 15-year-old British boy who plotted to behead police officers at an Anzac Day parade in Australia has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Blackburn teenager will serve at least five years for inciting terrorism and will only be released once he is no longer considered to be dangerous.
He sent thousands of online messages to an alleged Australian jihadist and was planning "a massacre", the court heard.
He is believed to be the youngest Briton guilty of a terror offence.
Police said the plan hatched by the boy - who was aged 14 at the time and will remain anonymous due to his age - was "shocking in its brutality and scope".
The boy remains a "significant risk", the judge, Mr Justice Saunders, said.
Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent, said the five-year minimum term was a "window of opportunity" to see if the boy can be deradicalised before he is then moved into the adult prison system.
But our correspondent said he may potentially never leave custody.
By BBC's Rachael Connors
The teenager - now Britain's youngest convicted terrorist - comes from a "normal" family in Blackburn, Lancashire; he had a "typical relationship" with his mother who would drive him to any appointments.
But the picture that emerged when police searched his bedroom was far from normal. On the windowsill they found a wooden box labelled Islamic State in the way a teenager might carve out the name of a pop idol.
But it was what detectives found within encrypted messages that revealed Australia was just days away from experiencing a violent terrorist attack orchestrated by the schoolboy.
Read more: How did a teenager from a "normal" family become Britain's youngest convicted terrorist?
The court heard how the boy adopted an older persona in his messages to alleged Australian jihadist Sevdet Besim, 18, in which he instructed him to carry out an Islamic State terror group inspired attack.
They had been put in touch by a well-known Islamic State recruiter, Abu Khaled al-Cambodi - also an Australian.
The plot, hatched from the bedroom of the Lancashire teenager's suburban home earlier this year, was for Mr Besim to run over at least one police officer and then behead them with a knife at the remembrance parade in Melbourne, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Anzac Day, held on 25 April each year, commemorates Australian and New Zealand personnel killed in conflicts - and this year marked the centenary of the World War One battle in Gallipoli.
In one exchange of messages, the teenager suggested Mr Besim get his "first taste of beheading" by attacking "a proper lonely person".
The pair would "in all probability" have succeeded had British police not accessed material on the boy's phone and alerted Australian police, the court had heard.
The boy later told his psychiatrist it would be a "massacre".
Mr Besim is awaiting trial in Australia next year.
Wearing glasses and grey trousers and shirt, the boy sat impassively as his sentence was read out, before hugging his tearful parents and family members in turn, and being led away.
Sentencing the teenager, judge Mr Justice Saunders said the youth would have "welcomed the notoriety" had the plot succeeded.
He said it was "chilling" that someone who was only 14 years old at the time could have become "so radicalised that he was prepared to carry out this role intending and wishing that people should die".
He had been "immersed" in online extremist material and "groomed" by adult extremists who then started using him to carry out their wishes, the judge said.
Speaking outside court the boy's solicitor, Daniel King, said the family were "shocked and devastated" when he was arrested, as they had no idea about his intentions and were relieved that no one had been harmed.
The court previously heard the teenager had been referred to the authorities by his school on several occasions for threatening behaviour, including telling one teacher he would "cut his throat and watch him bleed to death". He had also cited Osama Bin Laden as his hero.
The youth had found an online jihadist community through his first smartphone which "filled a void" caused by problems he was having at school and at home as well as a degenerative eye condition.
Within two weeks of setting up a Twitter account he had 24,000 followers as he constructed a fantasy image of himself and "quickly became a celebrity" within the jihadi Twitter community.
He was referred to the government's de-radicalisation initiative Channel, but only paid "lip service" to attempts to reform him, Mr Justice Saunders said.
He said "no doubt lessons can and have been learnt" about how his case might have been handled.
But he stressed the blame lay entirely with "those extremists who were prepared to use the internet to encourage extreme views in a boy of 14 and then use him to carry out terrorist acts".
Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, from the north west counter terrorism unit, said the boy had been known to police but had resisted intervention.
"That's a dangerous game to play because you can get people like us knocking on the door and investigating you, which is not the place we want to be dealing with 14-year-old people," he said.
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee, said members would "look closely" at the case.
"It is concerning that he has been part of programmes for de-radicalisation which have clearly not worked," Mr Vaz said.


A man arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman's body was found at a Shropshire business has been released on bail.

The woman, aged in her 40s, was found at Shrewsbury Transport Ltd in Featherbed Lane in Shrewsbury, at about 08:00 GMT on Christmas Eve.
A 45-year-old man from Shrewsbury was arrested and has since been released on bail, West Mercia Police said.
A post-mortem examination is taking place.
The woman has not yet been formally identified, the spokesman said.


Significant changes in the energy industry could alter the scale and nature of plans for a major power line upgrade in southern Scotland.

SP Energy Networks wants to build a new line from South Ayrshire to Cumbria - most of it in Dumfries and Galloway.
It has now published its report on public feedback on the plans.
It said a further round of consultation would be required later this year but said changes in the industry could affect the "scope of the project".
More than 1,600 pieces of feedback were provided during the first round of consultation - the majority from Dumfries and Galloway where most of the proposed power line route would run.
A number of points about the scheme were raised, including:
The company said that since the consultation was launched, there had been a "number of significant developments in the wider energy sector" which could affect the project.
However, it said it remained the case that investment was required to replace "ageing infrastructure in the Dumfries and Galloway region".
There will now be "further analysis" to determine the extent to which changes to "subsidy arrangements for onshore wind farms and the future mix of power generation in Scotland" would alter their plans.
SP Energy Networks transmission director Pearse Murray said: "In our initial documentation published last year, we indicated our intention to undertake a second round of consultation in 2016 on the preferred routes and substation sites.
"Given the further analysis work we are doing with National Grid, we believe it is necessary to take more time to consider the issues in order to ensure that the most appropriate proposal is taken forward to the next stage of the process.
"Once we have the results of the studies that are under way, we will be in a position to set out any implications on the scope of the project and our plans for the next round of consultation.
"We expect that this will be in the summer of this year."
Alan Jones, of campaign group Dumgal Against Pylons, said it welcomed the recognition that "external factors" had changed since the consultation was launched.
"While we have always recognised the need to replace the existing system because of its age, and add some future-proofing, this 'pause for thought' aligns with our thinking," he said.
"It will give Scottish Power the time they need to take into consideration not only the extensive feedback but also to reflect on how best to meet the changing external environmental circumstances."
He added that a stakeholder liaison group for the project should now be expanded and also called for independent research on the potential impact of the scheme.


Communities Minister Stephen Williams has defended his remarks in Parliament about the threat to pubs in his constituency from population changes.

The Lib Dem MP for Bristol West said pubs in parts of the city were closing because of the decline of the "white working class" and the arrival of migrants from Somalia and elsewhere.
He said reports of his remarks had been "twisted" to suggest a focus on race.
He had simply been proposing derelict premises should be converted, he said.
The comments were made as Mr Williams was outlining a government proposal to protect community pubs.
The plan involves changing the law to prevent places listed as assets of community value being demolished or having their use changed without planning permission.
Some campaigners had called for the government to go further and impose a blanket ban on the redevelopment of all pubs without planning permission.
Arguing against a blanket ban, Mr Williams told MPs: "In my own constituency, lots of pubs have closed - but it is usually because of demographic change.
"Some parts of my constituency, which had a 'white working-class community' 20 or 30 years ago, are now populated primarily by recently arrived Somalis and other people.
"Obviously the pubs in those areas have closed, and some have been converted to other uses, but some of them are still derelict.
"What the government is proposing is to look at the public houses that are genuinely popular and valued by the community now, giving them protection that is already allowed in the Localism Act and further enhancing that protection in terms of the planning laws, saying you cannot convert this pub into another use or demolish it without planning permission."
Some reports, including one in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, with the headline "'Somali immigrants' cause pub closures", had taken his comments out of context, Mr Williams said.
"There was no value judgement in what I said. It was simply an observation," he told the BBC.
"Some pubs in the Barton Hill and Redcliffe area of my constituency have closed because of the arrival of a non-drinking Muslim population to the area.
"I could have made a point about pubs closing because of the decline of a factory or a football stadium - both of which also apply to my constituency," he said.
"I was simply saying there was no point us giving blanket protection to all pubs, as some people suggest.
"But what we are announcing is powers for people across the country to protect their much-loved pubs by triggering a planning application if they are listed as a community asset."
Mr Williams rejected any suggestion his comments had been motivated by a negative view of migration.
"I have consistently argued that immigration is a good thing," he said. "That is my view as a Liberal."


A man has died from his injuries after he was hit by a car following what police said was an "altercation".

Richard Broughton, 37, was seriously injured by the car at about 19:00 BST on Friday in Welland, Crescent, Elsecar, near Barnsley.
The car, believed to be a Suzuki Swift, did not stop at the scene.
Mr Broughton died in hospital on Sunday. A murder inquiry is under way, and his family is receiving support from specially-trained officers.
Police said: "A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course and officers are now treating this as a murder investigation.
"Police remain keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident... or anyone who may hold information about those that may have been involved."
A car matching the description of the one which hit Mr Broughton has been recovered by police.


Meet the woman who took London 2012's motto - "Inspire a generation" - to heart.

Jen Offord, by her own admission, is not naturally sporty or athletic. Like many Londoners, she says, she was worried about the prospect of the world turning up on her doorstep last summer.
"As the Olympics were approaching," Jen told Get Inspired, "I was feeling pretty cynical about them. I live in London - I thought it would be a nightmare.
"I thought the transport system would grind to a halt, nothing would work and there would be too many people here, it would all be a bit annoying.
"But as the Olympics got closer and the torch relay was getting under way, I was getting more excited - and London became a really fun place to be. I got quite into it all."
Plenty of people shared Jen's experience of Olympic and Paralympic London last summer, but few have since indulged in a turnaround quite so extreme. Shedding her Olympic cynicism, the 30-year-old embarked on a mission to try all 38 Olympic sports in one year.
"I was watching the triathlon with some friends in St James's Park, and was really getting excited by it all. I was thinking: 'Why don't I take up a sport?'
"I was thinking about all the different sports I had seen over the course of the Olympics that I could try. My friend said, why don't I have a go at all of them and then write a blog about it.
"I set myself a challenge of trying all the different Olympic disciplines within the space of a year, starting at the end of August last year. I'm determined to get them all done. I can't remember everything I've tried because there are so many of them, but I know I've tried lots of sports."
Jen's only previous sporting endeavour of this nature was the 2009 London Marathon, but she insists she was not "naturally athletic" as she embarked on her post-Olympic adventure.
"I didn't like sport at school, there weren't any sports that I played regularly. I ran the marathon in 2009 because it was an ambition I had always had, and after that I did a bit more exercise and went to a few more classes here and there, but the primary motivation for that was to enable me to eat more cake."
After setting up her blog, Jen managed to receive help from Team GB athletes who offered tips.
"Twitter has been responsible for a lot of it, I managed to get Team GB to retweet a link to my blog and Twitter feed, and off the back of that Sebastian Prieto retweeted it and I contacted him.
"He put me in touch with some of his team-mates and some other Olympians, so Chloe Rogers from the Team GB hockey team contacted me, and I got a tweet from Dame Kelly Holmes which was a big moment."
Jen now believes perspective plays a large role in people's attitudes to sport.
"A lot of people out there were like me. They maybe didn't like sport that much at school, they have a vague aspiration to get involved now, but they don't really know what they would try and how they would go about doing it.
"I've had people getting in touch who told me they enjoyed reading about the different sports I've tried, and thinking maybe they would have a go. It's been really nice to see other people either have an interest in it or be inspired by the project itself.
"I've tried so many things I wouldn't have tried otherwise. I'm definitely fitter, I'm definitely stronger and I'm happier as well. There are so many positive things about sport that have completely changed my view."
At the time we spoke to Jen, she had tried 28 of the 38 sports. Diving, mountain-biking, triathlon, sailing and more are yet to be conquered.
"The one thing I want people to take away from this is that there is a sport for everyone, but you may not know it yet," she concludes. "Go out and try the different sports and you will find the right sport for you."
Can Jen see herself continuing with any sports when the challenge has finished?
"I definitely want to keep up something, that may be the next challenge - to see how good I can get at one sport in a year."
Find out more about Jen Offord and her challenge at jeninspired.wordpress.com


Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to sell $3.8bn (£2.46bn) worth of North Sea assets to oil exploration firm Chrysaor as part of continuing debt reduction measures.

Shell is aiming to sell $30bn of assets by 2018 as it seeks to pay off debt following its takeover of BG Group.
The deal represents about half of Shell's 2016 North Sea output.
Chrysaor will become the largest independent operator in the North Sea after the deal's completion.
On completion of the North Sea deal, about 400 staff will transfer to Chrysaor, "subject to a detailed scoping exercise and staff consultation", Shell said.
"This transaction shows the clear momentum behind Shell's... divestment programme," the company said.
Shell's interests in Buzzard, Beryl, Bressay, Elgin-Franklin, J-Block, the Greater Armada cluster, Everest, Lomond and Erskine - plus a 10% stake in Schiehallion - will be sold as part of the deal.
The firm said it expected to "record an accounting gain" on the sale, which includes Shell and former BG assets.
Shell's chief financial officer Simon Henry said the deal "builds on recent upstream divestments in the Gulf of Mexico and Canada."
He added that the firm wanted to "simplify our portfolio following the acquisition of BG".
In April 2015, Shell agreed to buy the oil and gas exploration firm in a deal that valued the business at £47bn. The final deal value was £36.4bn.
Shell cut thousands of jobs after the BG deal, and announced more than 10,000 job cuts globally.
Also on Tuesday, Shell said it would sell its stake in Thailand's Bongkot gas field to the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company for $900m.


The head of the Arts Council of Wales has defended its oversight of a company at the heart of a damning review.

Chairman Phil George said the Welsh Government-commissioned independent review of literature and publishing was "deeply disappointing".
It recommended stripping Literature Wales of much of its responsibilities for nurturing writers and promoting their work.
It was suggested the Welsh Books Council (WBC) should handle it instead.
Until now the WBC has focused on grants for publishers and distributing printed works.
The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) was criticised by the review's authors for not properly overseeing Literature Wales' activities, despite giving it a public subsidy of more than Â£700,000 a year.
Mr George said: "I don't think that we failed in our oversight of Literature Wales.
"The first thing to say is that we don't recognise the description of Literature Wales as a kind of dysfunctional organisation not worthy of public funds.
"But that's not because we are complacent about it, we know that all the organisations that we fund get careful attention from us and we look carefully at the way that they operate and there are ambitions that we develop with them."
Chairman of the review panel, Prof Medwin Hughes, declined to comment while its recommendations were still being considered by the Welsh Government.
Mr George did accept some improvements could be made: "We are not saying Literature Wales is perfect. We are working with them on a number of fronts.
"But we certainly don't recognise the description of them and therefore we don't think that we have been neglectful in looking after them."
Economy Secretary Ken Skates declined to be interviewed but First Minister Carwyn Jones was asked about the review's conclusions during an assembly committee meeting.
Responding to a question by Bethan Jenkins about it, Mr Jones said: "I'm aware of the comments.
"Over the years, one of the things I've noticed is that it's a small sector but the comments can often be quite strong when they're made."
He said the government would consider "all the comments made" as part of its formal response to the review, but no date for that response had been decided.
The assembly's culture committee will hold its own inquiry into the review of literature and publishing in September.
Conservative committee member Suzy Davies said: "I think one of the things that's been disappointing about this report, despite it being claimed to have reached a wide section of the public, when you look at the actual figures that have been quoted - 800 people filled in a questionnaire.
"Do you know, they are authors, publishers and journalists. They are not members of the public, so your average readers or consumers of the written word, in whatever format it is, I don't think this has even touched the surface of what they think.
"So before the cabinet secretary [Ken Skates] comes to any conclusions he needs to take some evidence from the outside world as well."


The fatal stabbings of two friends in Nottingham within 24 hours are "not believed to be linked", police said.

A 19-year-old man remains in custody after the death of Martin Maughan, 27, in West Walk, Sneinton, early on Saturday morning.
But the stabbing of a 38-year-old man in Mill View Close on Sunday morning is being treated as a separate incident.
The second victim has not been identified and no arrests have been made in connection with his death.
A 43-year-old man arrested after the killing of Mr Maughan has been released on bail.
Chief Inspector Mark Stanley said extra patrols have been put in place in Sneinton to reassure residents.
"(Crime) scenes have been established at both of the incidents to make sure all available evidence is secured and preserved.
"The early indications are that these incidents are confined to people who are known to each other and who were at addresses they were invited to," Ch Insp Stanley said.
The second victim was holding a party celebrating the life of his friend when he was stabbed, the BBC has been told.


Northern Ireland retailers had a bumper Christmas, a bank survey has suggested.

The Ulster Bank surveys private sector activity every month, in what is considered a reliable indicator of the economy.
It shows that in December the retail sector had its sharpest monthly increase in business activity in more than 10 years.
The figures also suggest that employment continues to increase in the retail sector.
The bank's chief economist, Richard Ramsey, said the last three months of 2016 showed  "the strongest set of quarterly retail sales figures in the survey's 14-year history".
He added: "Demand from the Republic of Ireland is boosting exports and retail sales considerably.
"As a result, Northern Ireland's retail sector continues to post the fastest rates of job creation of all the sectors."
However the survey continued to point to growing inflationary pressures, as the weak pound increases the cost of imported goods and materials.
Selling prices at retailers rose at the fastest pace since the survey began in January 2003.
The UK retail sector as a whole appears to have had a good Christmas.
Major supermarkets, department stores and fashion chains have reported year-on-year sales increases.
Consumer spending has been supported by an increase in unsecured debt, such as credit cards.
Total unsecured debt in the UK for 2016 reached Â£270bn, a record high.


US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team have released a letter that they say was sent to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"A very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct," Mr Trump said about the note, which is dated 15 December 2016.
On Thursday the two leaders called for their respective nations to boost their nuclear arsenals.
Earlier, Mr Trump seemed to welcome the notion of a nuclear arms race.
"Let it be an arms race because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," MSNBC journalist Mika Brzezinski says the President-elect told her in a statement over the phone, in response to a question about his tweet from the day earlier.
On Thursday Mr Trump tweeted that the US "must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability", only after hours after President Putin had called for his own military to "strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces".
In the letter released by the Trump transition team, Mr Putin says he hopes that "we will be able - by acting in a constructive and pragmatic manner - to take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration to the international scene to a qualitatively new level".
Experts believe that Mr Putin hopes that the next US president will remove economic sanctions by the US Department of Treasury which have been placed on Russian officials following the invasion and annexation of Crimea.
At an annual media briefing on Friday in Moscow, the Russian president said he saw nothing remarkable in Mr Trump's tweet, making it clear that he does not view the US as a potential aggressor.
Donald Trump has been seen as close to Mr Putin and the Russian government, and drew condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats when he announced his selection of Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, the top US diplomat.
The CEO of ExxonMobil has worked closely with Russian state oil company Rosneft, spoken out against international sanctions imposed on Moscow, and in 2013 was awarded an Order of Friendship by the Kremlin.
In response to the note from Mr Putin, the Republican president-elect praised the Russian president's words, calling them "so correct".
"I hope both sides are able to live up to these thoughts, and we do not have to travel an alternate path," the New York billionaire concluded.


A woman selling her wedding dress on eBay says she will use the cash to fund her divorce, after her husband left her and moved in with another woman.

Samantha Wragg, of Chesterfield, says she is "mainly selling as I need to pay for my divorce which my ex-husband has left me to foot the bill for".
Ms Wragg says she added her story to her advert on the online auction site after initially not receiving any bids.
The Art Couture dress has now attracted bids in excess of Â£13,000.
Ms Wragg, who is 28, says her parents bought her the size six dress for "around Â£2,000" in 2014. She first put it up on eBay for Â£500 on 11 August.
She describes it on the listing as being in "great condition but needs dry cleaning before wearing to get rid of the stench of betrayal", adding that she did not have time to have it cleaned before her husband "decided to call an end to our marriage".
She added: "I'll also throw in my veil (yes, that's right - I went all out princess on the day!)."
She goes on to apologise for only posting two photographs of the dress on the advert, but says that "when I found out my husband was living with another woman, I pretty much burned/permanently deleted everything with his disgusting face on it!"
She added: "If you want a dress that is full of bad memories and shattered hopes and dreams then this is the one for you! Hope this dress brings you a lot more happiness than it brought me in the end and if not...well you can always sell it on here!"
Ms Wragg, who says she works in social media, also runs a lifestyle and fashion blog.
After her story was picked up by the media, she wrote a blog post about her reasons for selling the dress. In it, she says her husband left the relationship in January.
She wrote: "I had my wedding dress on eBay for two weeks with barely any views so I decided with a little help from my brother (ok it was all his idea!) to make it funny.
"A lot of people have got the wrong end of the stick and think it's really bitter but anyone who knows me knows I've got a great sense of humour and it's very tongue in cheek."
She goes on to say that she "literally can't count the amount of messages I've had on eBay from both men and women wishing me all the best with everything".
Two of those messages, she says, have been marriage proposals. But they are falling on deaf ears, because Ms Wragg has recently posted on Instagram about a man she is now dating.
And despite the tone of her online advert, Ms Wragg says she does not bear her ex any ill will.
"I wish my ex-husband all the best with everything. Yes, he made a terrible and really hurtful mistake but he's got to live with that (and without me!) for the rest of his life.
"I forgive him and I'm very happy now so I hope he is too."


Fears are growing over the health of Greek banks after indications that savers have withdrawn billions of euros in the past week.

Capital flight from beleaguered Greek banks this week alone could be more than €4bn (£2.9bn), reports say.
Savers are moving funds as time runs out to resolve Greece's debt crisis.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has approved more emergency help for the banks and will review funding again on Monday, officials told news agencies.
The amount of extra funding has not been officially disclosed.
The pace of withdrawals has gained speed as talks between the government and its creditors have collapsed.
Greece has less than two weeks remaining to strike a deal or face defaulting on a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) loan repayment due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
If it fails to make the payment, it risks having to leave the eurozone and possibly also the EU.
But the European Commission, the IMF and the ECB are unwilling to unlock bailout funds until Greece agrees to reforms.
They want Greece to implement a series of economic changes in areas such as pensions, VAT and on the budget surplus before releasing €7.2bn of funds, which have been delayed since February.
On Monday, an emergency summit of leaders from eurozone nations will be held after the latest attempt to resolve the Greek debt crisis failed.
A meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Thursday made no breakthrough.
The head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said that "too little" progress had been made and that "no agreement as yet is in sight".
Mr Dijsselbloem stressed that "very little time remains" for Greece.
Valdis Dombrovksis, European Commissioner for the euro, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there had been "a strong signal" from the Eurogroup to Greece "that it's [the] last moment to engage seriously in negotiations".
Responding to the reports of big cash withdrawals by Greek savers, he said: "It's very clear that one of the most urgent things Greece needs is financial stability."
The Reuters news agency said withdrawals by Greek savers between Monday and Friday reached about €4.2bn, which represents about 3% of household and corporate deposits held by Greek banks at the end of April.
"There are no lines [queues] or panic, it has been a quiet and gradual phase of withdrawals," one banker told Reuters. "They are due to worries whether a deal will be clinched with the country's lenders."
A fully fledged run on the banks could upset the plans of the Greek government and its creditors, says BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris.
Our correspondent says that any introduction of capital controls will depend on the behaviour of the Greek people.
He says that if the outflow of deposits from banks reaches alarming levels which no-one can really cope with, then the decision is taken out of policymakers' hands.
Cars and shoe boxes: Greeks cope with an economic crisis
Peston: Is there any way Greece can avoid default??
Walker: The options for Greece
What impact would Grexit have on UK?
Greece debt crisis: Full coverage
Our correspondent says a member of the ECB's governing board was quoted as saying he could not be sure that Greek banks would open on Monday, but that this comment had been selectively leaked by delegations from other countries.
Leaks like this suggest that the gloves have come off, he adds.
Ahead of a meeting of European finance ministers on Friday, UK Chancellor George Osborne said: "We have entered the eleventh hour of this Greek crisis, and we urge the Greek government to do a deal before it is too late.
"We hope for the best, but we now must be prepared for the worst."
But Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday that there would be a solution to Greece's debt crisis.
"The [eurozone] leaders summit on Monday is a positive development on the road toward a deal," Mr Tsipras said in a statement.
"All those who are betting on crisis and terror scenarios will be proven wrong."
He added: "There will be a solution based on respecting EU rules and democracy which would allow Greece to return to growth in the euro."
Mr Tsipras was at an economic forum in St Petersburg in Russia on Friday with a delegation of ministers and business leaders.
At the forum, Greece and Russia signed a memorandum on extending the planned Turkish Stream gas pipeline to Europe through Greek territory.
Athens said funding would come from Russian state development bank VEB.
Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis said at the signing ceremony that Greece needed support and not pressure, and that co-operation with Russia was not aimed against other countries or Europe.
But Russia is ready to consider giving financial aid to Greece, the TASS news agency reported.
"We will support any solution on regulating the Greek debt crisis that is suggested by Greece and our European partners," the agency quoted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich as saying.
"The most important things for us are investment projects and trade with Greece. If financial support is required, we will consider this question."
Is Greece close to Grexit?
EU solidarity damaged by Greek splits
Are you in Greece? How have you been affected by the crisis over recent years? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.
If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.
Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971


Forest Green Rovers manager Ady Pennock says National League rivals Cheltenham Town "have one hand on the trophy".

Cheltenham beat struggling Guiseley 2-0 on Saturday to move six points clear of Rovers, who could only manage a 1-1 draw at play-off chasing Braintree.
Pennock's side are already assured of at least a place in the play-offs, with three games left to play this season.
"We've got to keep playing well and make sure that we're going into the play-offs in good form," he said.
"Being realistic, and fair play to Cheltenham, they've been consistent enough, so it's not mathematically impossible but I think they've got one hand on the trophy.
"Of course we want to win every game, but it's impossible. I said to the players we've got to keep our heads up, keep focused and keep pushing on."
Forest Green lost to Bristol Rovers in the semi-finals of last season's play-offs after finishing fifth in the Conference, the highest final league position in the club's history.


Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland has reversed his decision to take an 18-month break from international rugby.

Bath boss Mike Ford announced in October that the former Scarlet star, 28, was taking a sabbatical.
"We agreed to sign Rhys on the basis that he did not play international rugby," said Ford. "He's now decided that he wants to play again."
Dan Biggar was the first choice No 10 during the World Cup earlier this year as Wales reached the quarter-finals.
Priestland has won 40 Test caps and replaced Biggar during the last-eight loss to South Africa on 17 October.
Ford explained that Priestland's U-turn was the reason Bath had signed utility back Dan Bowden from New Zealand.
But the coach added: "We're hoping Rhys will be with us for the two years of his contract and possibly beyond that."
Ford wanted Priestland to act as cover for his son, George, who is expected to be part of England's Six Nations squad.


Donald Trump has taunted Arnold Schwarzenegger, his replacement as host of The Celebrity Apprentice, saying the actor was "destroyed" in TV ratings.

"So much for being a movie star," wrote the US president-elect, who described himself as a "ratings machine".
In response, the actor called on him to work for all Americans "as aggressively as you worked for your ratings".
Monday's season launch was seen by an estimated 4.9 million people - down 43% on the last season premiere in 2015.
Schwarzenegger has received mixed reviews for his debut as the new star of the show.
The veteran action star and former California governor has replaced Mr Trump's "You're fired" catchphrase with "You're terminated" - a reference to his roll in The Terminator film and its sequels.
In the tweets, sent on Friday, Mr Trump wrote: "Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got "swamped" (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT.
"So much for being a movie star - and that was season 1 compared to season 14. Now compare him to my season 1."
More than 11 million people watched the opening episode of Celebrity Apprentice in 2008, according to Variety.
Referring to Republican Ohio governor John Kasich and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump added: "But who cares, he supported Kasich & Hillary."
In return, Schwarzenegger tweeted: "There's nothing more important than the people's work, @realDonaldTrump."
He added: "I wish you the best of luck and I hope you'll work for ALL of the American people as aggressively as you worked for your ratings."
Mr Trump helped create the show and starred on it until 2015, when his political career took over.
The contestants on the current series, who compete to raise money for charity, include boxer Laila Ali,  Boy George and Motley Crue singer Vince Neil.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Black male graduates in London are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts, figures suggest.

In 2016 there was an unemployment rate of 18% for black male graduates aged 16 to 24 in the capital.
According to the data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the rate for their white counterparts was 10%.
A government spokesperson said the employment rate for ethnic minorities was "at a record high".
More than 83,000 young men in London are from black and mixed black ethnic groups, making up about one in five of young men in the capital.
Research by the National Audit Office (NAO) has found that along with Pakistani and Bangladeshi women, black men consistently have the lowest employment rates in the UK.
Gary Chimuzinga was initially unsuccessful getting a place on a graduate scheme at a bank after studying Financial Economics with Econometrics at the University of Kent.
He then went through Rare, a recruitment company which focuses on placing people from ethnic minorities and working-class backgrounds, and got an internship at Barclays and later got on their graduate scheme.
The 23-year-old said he faced "a lot of struggles" during his search for a job.
He believes there are several things which hold back young black men in London but "ultimately it comes down to confidence".
"We don't have many role models which can give us a bit of confidence, that it is doable," he added.
BBC London contacted 50 of London's 500 top graduate employers last year across the banking, accounting, medical, legal and retail sectors.
Eleven were able to provide data relating to their employment of black men specifically.
Those 11 organisations recruited 1,803 graduates in 2016. Of those, 30 were black men.
The NHS leadership academy, for trainee managers, was among those which did not recruit any among its intake of 112 graduates.
National director Stephen Hart said the scheme was "hugely popular".
"We know more work needs to be done across the system to improve the under-representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic background (BAME) colleagues at a senior level in the NHS," he said.
Barclays was one of the organisations which employed the highest percentage of black men. Of 320 recruits, nine were black men.
The figures from the Annual Population Survey cover the 12 months ending October 2016.
They do show the gap is closing with a decrease from the previous year when the unemployment rate for young black men with a degree in London was 27%.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "The employment rate for ethnic minorities is at a record high, with 80,000 more people in London finding work in the last year alone.
"We've set a target to increase BAME employment by 20% by 2020, and remain firmly committed to that," they said.


AFC Wimbledon will investigate an incident between a club volunteer and Charlton boss Karl Robinson at the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw.

Robinson was confronted as the teams left the pitch, and had to be restrained.
"This does not reflect well on anyone," said chief executive Erik Samuelson.
"Any abusive remark by a volunteer towards an opposition employee is completely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated."
Robinson previously spent six years in charge of MK Dons, the club which resulted from Wimbledon FC's relocation from south London to Milton Keynes in September 2003.
AFC Wimbledon was formed in 2002 after permission was granted for Wimbledon FC to move, and worked their way up the non-league pyramid before reaching the Football League in 2011.
The Addicks boss, 36, told BBC Radio London the comment directed towards him "breaks all boundaries of football".
"We were very aware that the presence at the game of Mr Robinson represented a risk, because many of our fans feel he was very disrespectful of our club in his time [at Milton Keynes]," Samuelson added in a statement on the club website.
"For that reason we went out of our way to avoid any incidents. We will complete our investigation before reaching a final conclusion."
Meanwhile, Wimbledon are also set to investigate a coin-throwing incident from the Charlton supporters' area, which resulted in an assistant referee being hit on the back of the head.
Samuelson said the League One club are studying CCTV footage, to identify who committed what he described as a "reckless act".


India and China have signed 12 agreements in Delhi, one of which will see China investing $20bn (Â£12.2bn) in India's infrastructure over five years.

At a news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping, India's PM Narendra Modi said "peace on the border" was important for progress.
Talks came as India accused China of fresh territorial incursions in Ladakh.
China is one of India's top trading partners but they vie for regional influence and dispute their border.
Mr Modi and Mr Xi made separate statements at the end of their talks in Delhi on Thursday.
Under the investment plans, China pledged to:
Both sides also focussed on increasing co-operation in trade, space exploration and civil nuclear energy.
Mr Modi called for an early settlement on the disputed common border between the two countries and said the "true potential of our relations" would be realised when there was "peace in our relations and in the borders".
There have been reports in the Indian media of Chinese troops trying to construct a temporary road into Indian territory across the Line of Actual Control (the de facto boundary) in the disputed Ladakh region over the past week.
Mr Xi said he was committed to working with India to maintain "peace and tranquillity" on the border.
"China-India border issue is a problem which has troubled both sides for long... As the area is yet to be demarcated, there may be some incidents," he said.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said: "After timely, effective communication, the relevant situation has already been appropriately bought under control. Border issues are leftover issues from history."
The face-off between Chinese and Indian troops along their disputed border is being widely reported in India, with some suggesting that it could derail talks between the two countries. That is highly unlikely.
The border dispute is an old one, dating back to 1914 when Britain, India's former colonial power, signed an agreement with Tibet making the McMahon Line the de-facto border between the two countries. China has always rejected this.
Both sides also claim each other's territory - India, the Aksai Chin region of Kashmir and China refuses to recognise Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.
There have been several incursions of Chinese troops across the border in these areas which have been highlighted by the Indian media.  Diplomats from both sides, however, play down these transgressions. The simple fact is that there are differing perceptions on where the border lies - what India believes is Chinese troops crossing into their territory is seen by Beijing as the exact reverse: Indian troops occupying Chinese land.
It is extremely unlikely that these confrontations will lead to an outright conflict or even sour ties between the two countries. But they do reflect the suspicion and distrust that exist on both sides of the border.
Mr Xi began his visit in Gujarat, the home-state of Mr Modi, on Wednesday, before heading to Delhi.
On Wednesday, the two sides signed several agreements, including one to set up a Chinese-backed industrial park in Gujarat.
Indian and Chinese companies have also signed preliminary deals worth more than $3bn (Â£1.8bn) in aircraft leasing and telecoms, among other sectors.
Despite the continuing tensions, trade between India and China has risen to almost $70bn (Â£43bn) a year, although India's trade deficit with China has climbed to more than $40bn from $1bn in 2001-2002.


Saudi Arabia's state oil company is to be separated from the oil ministry as part of a wider restructuring.

The move was approved by the Supreme Economic Council, which was set up by King Salman this year to replace the Supreme Petroleum Council.
The new 10-member council is headed by the King's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He was appointed this week as the new deputy crown prince and is regarded as second in line to the throne.
On Wednesday, King Salman appointed Saudi Aramco's chief executive Khalid al-Falih as chairman of the company and health minister as part of a major political reshuffle. He has been replaced by Aramco senior vice-president Amin al-Nasser.
The main facets of Saudi oil policy - including maintaining the ability to stabilise markets by holding extensive reserves and a reluctance to interfere in the market for political reasons - are set by the top members of the ruling royal family.
There are no signs that the move will lead to any significant changes in the way that the world's top oil exporter and de facto Opec leader makes its decisions.
However, separating Aramco from the oil ministry is likely to be just the first step in a shake-up of the Saudi oil sector, according to analysts.
Mohammad al-Sabban, a former senior adviser to Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi, said: "This decision will bring more flexibility to the company to take decisions on a commercial basis, and keep full financial control."
The move could pave the way for a prince to be appointed as the next oil minister to replace 79-year-old Mr al-Naimi.
It had been thought that the royal family regarded the role of oil minister as so important that giving it to a prince could upset the kingdom's delicate balance of power and risk making oil policy hostage to bickering among the many princes.
Earlier this year, King Salman promoted his son, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman - a long-serving member of Saudi Arabia's Opec delegation - to the role of deputy oil minister from assistant oil minister.
Ehsan ul-Haq, oil analyst at KBC Energy Economics, said it was highly likely that Prince Abdulaziz, a son of the King, could be appointed oil minister.
"[Falih's] shift to the health ministry suggests that he might not follow Naimi. His appointment to the chairman of Aramco, on the other hand, is only ceremonial," he said.
Aramco could not be reached for comment.


The 13th Glasgow Film Festival opens later with a European premiere kicking off 12 days of screenings and events.

More than 300 films will be shown at what is now one of the largest film festivals in the Britain, including world, UK and Scottish premieres.
The opening night features John Butler's Irish coming-of-age film Handsome Devil.
It closes with the world premiere of Mad To Be Normal, starring David Tennant.
The festival will also showcase the world premiere of Benny, the story of local hero Benny Lynch, widely considered the greatest boxer Scotland has ever produced.
Screenings will be shown at traditional film theatres across the city as well as pop-up cinemas such as the Snow Factor at Braehead and the Barras.
The festival runs from 15-26 February.


Security group G4S was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 in Wednesday morning trading despite reporting a 7.6% rise in first-half profit.

The firm saw its shares slide 5.3% after chief executive Ashley Almanza said it would sell off more underperforming assets this year.
Overall, the 100-share index was down 52.77 points or 0.7% at 7,489.96.
Meanwhile, the pound rose 0.05% against the dollar to exactly $1.30 and was up 0.26% against the euro to 1.1084 euros.
Among the top gainers was payment processing firm Worldpay, which added 0.2% after agreeing to merge with US rival Vantiv.
Biggest winners were mining firms Fresnillo and Randgold Resources, which gained 3% and 2.4% respectively.
On Tuesday, the FTSE 100 narrowly failed to hit a record closing high after a late rally stalled just short of the magic mark.


Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti said referee Viktor Kassai "wasn't up to the task" of a Champions League quarter-final and called for video technology "as soon as possible".

Bayern midfielder Arturo Vidal was sent off for two bookable offences, while Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo scored in extra time from an offside position as the Spanish holders won 6-3 on aggregate on Tuesday.
"We had thought of everything going into this game - except the referee," Ancelotti said.
"You can't decide a semi-final spot like this. It shouldn't happen at this level."
Ancelotti said Real manager Zinedine Zidane agreed with his assessment of Hungarian referee Kassai's "negative" performance at the Bernabeu.
"The referee probably wasn't up to the task," said the Italian, a former Real boss.
"I don't think Real Madrid have any influence on referees. The officials simply got it wrong. I had never been in favour of video technology, but I must admit it's necessary now."
Goalline technology - to determine whether the ball has crossed the line - was brought into the Premier League for the start of the 2013-14 season and the Bundesliga from 2015-16.
Video assistant referees (VARs) are being trialled worldwide, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino keen to employ the system at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
VARs - which rule on key incidents concerning goals, red cards, mistaken identities and penalties - could be used in English football as early as August, with the EFL Cup first round touted as a possible initial testing bed for the technology.
Video has already been used at international level, with two wrong decisions corrected by VARs as Spain beat France in a friendly in Paris on 29 March.
Uefa has not committed to the trials but in a statement said it was "constantly looking at ways in which it can improve the matches taking place in its competitions".
It added: "Regarding video assistant referees, there are currently trials taking place, so let's see the results and if or how the system can work while preserving the flow of the game."
BBC 5 live pundit Pat Nevin: "I don't want the referee to have spoiled the entirety of this game because it was a fantastic tie over two legs - but the referee killed it with the sending off.
"It was terrible, and then he gets the decision wrong for Ronaldo's goal.
"The referee will probably get as much chat as anyone else."
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "It was an extremely emotional spectacle, you can only compliment both teams. Our team has given everything, we must not forget that.
"It was great football, but unfortunately the referee gave some extreme decisions at our expense. The referee was of course the killer."
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Rafael Nadal is one of the most recognisable faces in world sport.

But how well do you know the 10-time French Open champion, who created history by beating Stan Wawrinka in Sunday's men's singles final at Roland Garros?
Test yourself in our fun quiz. And no cheating.
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China has expressed anger after Filipino protesters landed on a remote island controlled by the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.

"We once again urge the Philippines to withdraw... from the islands that it is illegally occupying," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday.
It comes after about 50 protesters, mostly students, landed on Pagasa in the Spratly archipelago on Saturday.
They said they wanted to highlight growing Chinese encroachment.
China claims almost all the South China Sea, believed to be rich in resources, dismissing rival claims by neighbours.
Apart from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam all lay claim to the disputed waters.
The protesters,  led by a former naval commander and called Kalayaan Atin Ito (Kalayaan This Is Ours), landed on Saturday and said they would stay for three days - they told the BBC that they would leave by 30 December.
They have described the journey as a "patriotic" voyage and a symbolic act of defiance against China. The government did not sanction the journey and citied safety and security concerns.
Tension has intensified over the last year, fuelled by China's aggressive island-building and naval patrols and the area has also seen the US and Australia undertaking freedom of navigation operations.
A recent BBC investigation witnessed at close quarters China's construction of new islands on coral reefs in the area and was repeatedly warned off by Chinese authorities while on a civilian flight in the vicinity of the islands.
The Philippines has a case challenging Beijing before the arbitration court in The Hague. It says the "nine-dash line", which China uses to demarcate its territorial claims, is unlawful under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which both countries have signed.
China has boycotted the proceedings, insisting that the panel has no authority to rule in the case.


Senior Republicans have condemned obscene comments Donald Trump made about women in a 2005 videotape.

In the video, posted by the Washington Post, Mr Trump is heard telling TV host Billy Bush "you can do anything" to women "when you're a star".
The New York businessman bragged about trying to have sex with a married woman as well as kissing and groping others.
Mr Trump later issued an apology: "I said it. I was wrong, I apologise. I pledge to be a better man."
In a filmed statement on his Facebook page, he added that the videotape was a "distraction" from more important political issues.
Earlier on Friday, when the video first emerged, he had dismissed it as "locker room banter" and added "Bill Clinton has said far worse to me".
He attacked the former president in his Facebook apology.
"I've said some foolish things, but there's a big difference between the words and actions of other people," he said.
"Bill Clinton has actually abused women.  And Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. We will discuss this more in the coming days."
After the video became public on Friday evening, senior Republicans were harsh in their condemnation of Mr Trump's comments.
House Speaker Paul Ryan rescinded his invitation to Mr Trump to attend the Republican Fall Fest in his home state of Wisconsin this weekend.
Mr Trump said that his vice-presidential running mate Mike Pence would represent him at the Wisconsin event.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said the comments were "repugnant," adding that Mr Trump "needs to apologise directly to women and girls everywhere".
Another senior Republican, John McCain, said there were "no excuses for Donald Trump's offensive and demeaning comments".
The video has emerged two days before Mr Trump takes part in the second presidential debate with his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
The two candidates will be in St Louis for the televised encounter, with polling day only a month away.
The clip was part of unaired footage of an Access Hollywood segment ahead of Mr Trump's appearance on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
"I moved on her and I failed. I'll admit it," Trump is heard saying. "She was married. And I moved on her very heavily."
"I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she's now got the big phony tits and everything. She's totally changed her look."
Later in the conversation, he told Bush he is "automatically attracted to beautiful" women and often tries to kiss them.
"I just start kissing them," he said. "I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything."
"Grab them by the pussy," Mr Trump says. "You can do anything."
Mr Trump issued a statement shortly after the footage was leaked.
"This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago," the statement read.
"Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close. I apologise if anyone was offended."
For his part, Mr Bush said he was "embarrassed and ashamed" at the contents of the video.
"It's no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago - I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."
Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher
Donald Trump has often found himself in hot water for public comments he's made about women over the years. It turns out he's said lewd and disparaging things in private as well. Go figure.
The videotape release comes at a most inopportune time for the Republican nominee, who was trying to use his running mate's well-received debate performance on Tuesday to reboot his campaign after a week of distractions and controversy. On Wednesday he told a local news interviewer that his previous offensive comments about women - which have dogged his campaign since the first Republican primary debate last August - were made for the "purpose of entertainment".
That explanation doesn't fit with the boorish, newly married Trump shown on the video privately boasting about his efforts to seduce a married woman and have his way with whomever he pleases.
Now Mr Trump will enter Sunday's debate with a new cloud hanging over his candidacy. It's almost certain that one of the town hall participants will ask him about it. There may be no easy way to respond - but Mr Trump will have to find an acceptable answer. If he bungles it, everything else he says during the 90-minute debate won't matter.
Hillary Clinton described the comments as "horrific".
"We cannot allow this man to become president," she posted on Twitter.
Mr Trump has said he will not bring up stories about Bill Clinton's infidelities in this Sunday's US presidential debate after previously threatening to do so.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said:  "I am sickened by what I heard today.
"I hope Mr Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests."
Who is ahead in the polls?
48%
Hillary Clinton
44%
Donald Trump
Last updated October 10, 2016


Rangers chairman Dave King has emphasised the need for prudence alongside a desire for the club to be "back at the top of the Scottish game".

King told the club's annual general meeting that the team is "well enough resourced" to achieve its immediate objective - playing European football.
Addressing shareholders, King spoke of the club's "most important issue".
"That issue is the need to strike the right balance between financial prudence and deficit funding," he said.
"The club cannot regain its former status by relying solely on the income it presently generates from its normal operations.
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King cited the example of Leicester City winning last season's English Premier League title and that of Leeds United, who spent heavily in the pursuit of success before financial catastrophe.
"Within any given season there is scope for a Leicester City to outperform its far more financially muscled competition," said the Rangers chairman at the Clyde Auditorium.
"The last two decades have seen instances of Celtic winning the title during seasons when Rangers spent more on players.
"It is therefore essential that the board does not deviate from its approved financial plan due to supporter and media pressure during one specific season and thereby abandon the financial discipline that is so essential to ensuring football and commercial success over the medium to long term.
"Put simply, your board recognises that we have to spend more than we earn for an as yet undetermined period, but this operating deficit will be prudently funded and managed
"We won't be satisfied until we are at the summit of the game and it's a medium- to long-term project."
The recruitment and subsequent departure of Joey Barton was expected to be a major talking point, but this was passed over quickly with King admitting that in some cases, recruitment has not worked out.
"For various reasons, a significant part of our increased player budget has been tied up in resources that have not, up to this point, made a meaningful contribution on the pitch," he said.
"It is my belief that Rangers is presently well enough resourced to achieve our next major football objective - a return to Europe. A further investment in players will be required at that point."
Manager Mark Warburton defended the recruitment of Barton, saying: "Hindsight is a marvellous thing. We looked for players to add value and experience. I'd hope you'd judge us by the 21 players who have come in rather than one individual."
King indicated that progress has been "hampered and stifled" by an ongoing dispute with Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley.
The board has, for the second year running, proposed a resolution to offer shares to investors without needing to involve all existing shareholders.
The outcome of that resolution, which could in effect dilute Ashley's shareholding, will be known next week, with King adamant that what he called "attempts to bully" contributed to a "significant loss of revenue".
"Rebuilding Rangers on and off the pitch is a medium- to long-term project," he said.
"Of course our plans would be enhanced, indeed advanced greatly, if we were not still being hampered and stifled by Sports Direct, who continue working to an agenda designed to help only themselves.
"Nevertheless, it remains my belief that we can free ourselves from these multiple onerous contracts and once again be able to operate and benefit from a strong retail arm."


A council has announced a cut in the school summer holidays to under five weeks, bringing criticism from some parents and teachers.

Barnsley Council in South Yorkshire announced term dates for academic year 2017-18 with a shorter summer break.
There will be a longer school holiday at October half-term.
Nick Bowen, principal of Horizon College, said the cut would "lead to difficulties in recruitment and retention of really good staff".
Councillor Tim Cheetham said: "The main differences to this year's dates from previous years will support educational outcomes for pupils by reducing the long summer break which can lead to learning loss.
"It also means that holiday weeks are distributed more evenly throughout the school year"
The 2018 summer holiday is to run from 31 July.
In 2017, schools are to break up almost a week earlier on 26 July.
This year the final day of term is to be 20 July, according to the council website.
Barnsley has 78 primary schools, 31 of which are academies, for children between the ages of five and 11. There are 10 advanced learning centres, four of which are academies, for 11-18-year-olds, said the council.
Mr Bowen said: "Half of Barnsley will be operating under this new system the other half, the academies, many of them are saying they're not going to do it."
Simon Murch, of the National Union of Teachers, said: "It seems a very poorly-thought-out idea.
"Anything that changes the system we've got at the moment that works really needs to be thought out."
The council said it had consulted teachers and parents on the changes.
Mr Murch said the union thought the consultation was continuing and no decision had been reached.
Parents have also commented the move on BBC Look North's Facebook page.
Colleen Bell said: 'I love the long summer break with my kids. Plus what a nightmare for parents with children in different schools or colleges that aren't doing this."
Sue Walker said: "Keep your thieving hands off my time with my kids. I'm already being told when I can and cannot go on my holidays with them, and now you want to cut short my holidays."
Claire Sutton supported the move, she said: "I think limiting the summer to four or even five weeks would be a good idea. An extra week or two somewhere else gives parents flexibility with regards to holidays and childcare."


Nine pharmacists who sold drugs illegally have been banned from practice, after a BBC investigation led to the "biggest crackdown" in UK pharmaceutical history.

In 2012, undercover reporters were sold Valium and opiates without prescription at seven London pharmacies. Now those responsible have been banned for between six months and life.
The BBC's evidence has been submitted to the government by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which is calling for increased powers.
The GPhC says it has been told by the Home Office that legislative change will follow, giving it the right to use covert surveillance to investigate the sort of abuses documented during the investigation.
One of the pharmacists was Chawan Shaida of Bin Seena Pharmacy, Paddington. He sold the BBC Valium, later claiming the incidents were isolated and caused no harm.
But the chairman of the GPhC's fitness to practise hearing disagreed, saying: "He did it for personal gain. He neglected the interests of patients. The public will be shocked by Mr Shaida's behaviour."
He was removed from the register of licensed pharmacists and received a police caution.
Hussain Jamal Rasool, from Al Farabi pharmacy, Paddington, illegally supplied the BBC with a bottle of Oramorph, which contains morphine. He told the researcher he could consume as much as he wanted.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP, told the BBC: "Opiates like Oramorph are extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. They can do untold damage and can kill."
The chairman of Mr Rasool's fitness to practice hearing, Patrick Milmo QC, said his behaviour was "shocking" and he "appeared oblivious to the enormity of what he was doing".
He was also banned from practice and failed in a legal bid to overturn the decision at the High Court.
Another pharmacist, Rafif Sarheed, who also worked for Al Farabi, was caught on CCTV falsifying documentation in an attempt to escape censure for illegally selling diazepam.
The GPhC described her actions as "premeditated" and "very serious".
It presented the BBC's investigation to the government as evidence that it needs greater powers to investigate rogue pharmacists.
As part of a crackdown on the illegal sale of drugs, the GPhC has taken numerous other pharmacists to fitness to practise hearings, and set out new standards and inspections.
The BBC's work has also been used as a tool to instruct all new pharmacists that the illegal sale of drugs will not be tolerated.
The council's chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: "The BBC has carried out an important public service in exposing the unlawful sales of prescription medicines through their investigation.
"We have thoroughly investigated all of the concerns raised by their investigation and have taken robust action to protect the public, including restricting the ability of pharmacists involved to practise in Great Britain.
"But it is important that we all remain vigilant and anyone with any concerns about pharmacies or pharmacy professionals should contact us immediately."
Ash Soni, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said of the hearings: "It demonstrates that where this is identified it will be dealt with.
"It's the biggest crackdown by the GPhC to date."
Many of the pharmacies were in the Edgware Road area, catering to a largely Arabic client base.
And a reputable pharmacist from the area, speaking to the BBC on condition of anonymity, said it was common knowledge that unlawful sales to foreign visitors continue to this day.
He said: "It's still happening, on a smaller scale than it used to be.
"They supply the medicines to their known customers."
He explained: "They are not used to having to get prescriptions in their own countries, and do not want the bother of seeing a doctor here.
"I often get people coming into my pharmacy expecting to be able to get these sort of drugs without a prescription. When they realise we follow the rules, they don't come back."
BBC Inside Out is on BBC One in the London region on Monday, 7 March at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days following transmission.


Police in the port city of Bari in southern Italy have arrested two Afghan men suspected of plotting jihadist attacks in Italy, France and the UK.

Three other Afghans are still being sought, two of whom may have gone back to Afghanistan, Italian media report.
Video clips and photos on the two detainees' mobile phones suggest that they were targeting landmarks in Bari, Rome, Paris and London for attacks.
They included hotels in London's West India Quay and Royal Victoria Dock.
The detained suspects were named as Hakim Nasiri, 23, and Gulistan Ahmadzai, 29.
Several photos released by police show Mr Nasiri posing with a rifle in a shop or warehouse.
The apparent targets they picked in Rome were the Circus Maximus and Colosseum. Police believe the Afghans had formed a jihadist cell linked to so-called Islamic State (IS).
The Bari investigators said one of the suspicious images showed a famous mosque in Mecca tinted blue - a colour associated with Islamic paradise and devotion - and the Eiffel Tower tinted violet - a colour associated with death and struggle.
Another photo showed Hakim Nasiri next to the Mayor of Bari, Antonio Decaro, during a march organised on 10 September 2015 in solidarity with immigrants.
Both suspects held by police have been living in Italy with humanitarian protection status. Mr Nasiri is accused of international terrorism and Mr Ahmadzai of assisting illegal immigration.
In Bari they had filmed the Ipercoop shopping mall, the inside of Bari Palese airport and the port area.
The police swooped after one of them was spotted using his smartphone to photograph the Ipercoop mall.
Police say the suspects' recordings included video tributes to friends and relatives of suspected Islamists held by the US authorities in Guantanamo, Cuba.


Lincoln City's FA Cup third-round replay with Ipswich Town on 17 January will be shown live on BBC One.

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National League leaders Lincoln almost caused an upset on Saturday as they led 2-1 at the side 15th in the Championship before Tom Lawrence equalised late on.
The replay will take place at Sincil Bank with kick-off at 20:05 GMT.
The winner of the tie will face Championship leaders Brighton in the fourth round.
Lincoln City will be the 17th different non-league club to be given BBC TV coverage this season.


Pakistan fell short of completing a world record run chase in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane.

The tourists, set a target of 490, began the final day on 382-8 and were on target for a famous victory until Asad Shafiq fell for 137 at 449-9.
Yasir Shah was run out by Steve Smith's direct hit from second slip four balls later as the home side won by 39 runs.
The record for the highest successful Test chase is West Indies' 418-7 to beat Australia in Antigua in 2003.
However, Pakistan's 450 all out equals the third highest score made in the fourth innings of any Test.
Man of the match Shafiq, who reached his century just before the end of day four, had expertly shepherded the tail, sharing half-century stands for the seventh, eighth and ninth wicket - the first time this had happened in a Test - with Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Yasir.
But when Shafiq fended off a Mitchell Starc bouncer to David Warner at gully, the Australians were swiftly able to wrap up victory in the 22nd over of the final day of this day-night encounter as Yasir fell after skipper Smith's direct hit caught him out of his crease.
The three-match series continues with the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on 26 December.


A 27-year-old man has been mugged in Perth by three men who stole his wallet.

The victim required medical treatment at hospital for minor injuries after being approached by the men, who made off with a three-figure sum of money.
The incident happened in Ladeside, near Sports Direct, at 23:00 on Saturday.
One of the men was described as about 25-years-old, wearing a black jacket with a red collar and cuffs, with blue jeans and black shoes.
A second man was described as wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. There is no description for the third man.
Police said all three suspects spoke with Polish accents and have appealed for witnesses to contact them.


Jockey Henry Brooke says he is "on the mend", a day after he was brought out of an induced coma following a fall at Hexham racecourse.

Brooke, 25, is believed to have broken his collarbone and suffered a suspected collapsed lung when riding Old Storm in a novices' handicap chase on Saturday.
Racing was delayed for almost two hours as medical staff treated Brooke after his mount's fall.
"Hope not to be out for too long," he posted on social media on Monday.
"Thank you so much for everyone's support and well wishes!"
The Injured Jockeys' Fund released a statement on Sunday saying the doctors at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where Brooke was transferred by air ambulance, were "pleased with his progress".


A mother whose son died at a disused quarry in Fife is leading a campaign to buy it in a bid to make it safe.

Cameron Lancaster, from Burntisland, Fife, died at Inverkeithing Quarry in August 2014.
His mother, Gillian Barclay, 52, from Burntisland, said her son died after jumping 70ft into the water during an ice bucket challenge.
Ms Barclay hopes to use a Community Empowerment Act to take over the privately-owned Â£1.5m quarry.
Her son's death was the first of two in the last 10 months.
John McKay, 18, from Kirkcaldy died at the quarry two weeks ago, on 18 June.
Ms Barclay told the BBC Scotland news website that she would like to see deep water drained out of the quarry before it is filled in  with landfill and terraced.
She said: "The owners of the land have not responded to either police notices or notices from Fife Council.
"The land is owned by Letham Bay Developments. It bought the land in the late 90s when there were plans to redevelop Inverkeithing Bay.
"The company has done nothing since with the land.
"I don't want another family to go through this and I was livid when I heard of the most recent death there of John McKay.
"There is no fencing along the cliff above the water in the quarry and people jump into it from a great height.
"I just want to make it safe."


John Lennon fans have sung his songs, laid flowers and lit candles on the 30th anniversary of the Beatle's death.

Vigils have been held in New York, where the music legend was shot dead, and his home city of Liverpool.
"I really do feel like I got a sense of peace here tonight," said Adam Byrne, 34, from Liverpool. "I think his message is still as strong as ever."
His widow Yoko Ono played a concert in Tokyo, while gatherings have also taken place in cities from Prague to Havana.
The musician was 40 years old when he was killed by crazed fan Mark Chapman outside the Dakota Building in Manhattan.
In Liverpool, several hundred people with candles and glowsticks braved cold temperatures to sing Lennon songs and listen to poetry inspired by the late Beatle.
The vigil was held next to a peace monument that was unveiled by his first wife Cynthia and son Julian in October and has been dedicated to John Lennon.
A giant photograph of John with Julian watched over the crowd, alongside a banner bearing the name of one of John's signature songs, Give Peace A Chance.
"That message is still loud and clear today as much now as it was then," said Mr Byrne.
"It's nice to see that people still remember John and we still carry a piece of John with us. Peace is possible."
Chris McIver, from the Wirral, said it was a "very nice, peaceful, happy evening".
"We're here just to remember John and to reflect on the night that we heard the news ourselves, to think of John and to celebrate."
Mr McIver recalled hearing the news of Lennon's death on TV. "I just couldn't believe it," he said.
"I remember just going into the lounge, sitting on a chair and I couldn't move for about an hour. I was in complete shock."
Phil Hanson, another fan in Liverpool's Chavasse Park, described the atmosphere as "lovely, warm and loving".
"He's one of my idols," he said. "John Lennon saved my life. I've even got a tattoo of him on my arm."
In New York, hundreds of fans gathered in Central Park, near the spot where Lennon was shot.
Flowers were laid in the Strawberry Fields area, which was converted to a memorial garden after his death.
Ono performed at a charity concert in Japan called Dream Power John Lennon Super Live, which raises money for schools for deprived children all over the world.
"On this tragic anniversary please join me in remembering John with deep love and respect," she said in a statement.
"In his short lived life of 40 years, he has given so much to the world. The world was lucky to have known him.
"We still learn so much from him today. John, I love you!"
Their son Sean, now a musician, used Twitter to respond to the tributes to his father.
"Thank you for all the kind words," he said. "Let's all just pray for peace on earth. That's what he cared about most."


India bowled England out for 158 to complete a 246-run win in the second Test on the fifth day in Visakhapatnam.

From 87-2 in pursuit of a notional 405, England's only realistic target was to bat through the day to salvage a draw.
But on a surface offering great assistance to India's spinners, England lost eight wickets for 66 runs, with Jayant Yadav taking 3-30.
India lead the five-match series 1-0 - the third Test in Mohali begins on Saturday.
England will travel north with concerns over pace bowler Stuart Broad, who has a strained tendon in his foot, and the form of batsman Ben Duckett.
While there was no disgrace in England being bowled out on a worn surface - the 97.3 overs they faced was their third longest fourth innings in a Test in India - the tourists will pinpoint a second evening where they were reduced to 80-5 as the reason why the match was lost.
England, heavy underdogs at the beginning of the series, had the better of the drawn first Test in Rajkot and here recovered from losing the toss and a mixed first day with the ball to bowl India out for 455.
With the surface always likely to deteriorate at the end of the match, it was vital for England to get up towards India's total in the first innings.
Instead, with the surface blameless, England gifted away a collapse of four wickets for 29 runs and the game was as good as gone.
Despite a whole-hearted bowling display in India's second innings and the stoic rearguard of openers Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed on the fourth afternoon, the tourists were left with far too much to do on the final day.
Northamptonshire left-hander Duckett opened the batting in the drawn series in Bangladesh, making 56 in the second innings of the second Test defeat.
Since being moved down to number four in India, he has made only 18 runs in three innings as off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin exposed a technique that sees him plant his front foot down the line of leg stump.
Here Duckett was removed for the third time in succession by Ashwin, somehow gloving an awful short delivery into his thigh pad to be caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.
"Duckett has talent, but he's anxious and tense," said former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott.  "They need to find someone else for the next Test. That doesn't mean his career is over, but he needs a break."
Options for replacing Duckett are limited. Of the touring squad, Gary Ballance has not made more than 17 in his past six Test innings, while wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who could play as a specialist batsman, has featured in only one first-class match since being dropped by England 13 months ago.
India, boosted by removing Hameed and Cook late on the fourth evening, brilliantly exploited the conditions on the final day to extend their four-year unbeaten home record to 13 wins and three draws.
Ashwin and fellow spinner Ravi Jadeja had the ball turning, shooting and spitting, close fielders swarmed and appealed constantly, all while England did little more than play back on their stumps in a bid for shotless survival.
Jadeja got one to jump at Moeen Ali before Jayant turned an off-break past the defence of Ben Stokes.
Joe Root, who should have been caught at leg slip on seven off Ashwin and successfully overturned a caught-behind decision off the same bowler, played across Mohammed Shami to be leg before, with the paceman then having Adil Rashid guide to Saha.
Ashwin scuttled one through Zafar Ansari to become the leading Test wicket-taker of 2016, with Jayant trapping Broad and James Anderson lbw in successive balls, the latter registering a king pair, to leave the fluent Jonny Bairstow unbeaten on 34.
Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott
England have a habit of collapsing. They go down like a pack of cards, like dominoes - call it what you want. This pitch is not a minefield.
England have depth in their batting and good seamers, but there have been concerns over an opener and a number four for a while. Joe Root has moved up to three, which means we now have a problem at number four. Hameed looks the part as an opener but he's only 19. They have collapses, and that's what hurts them.
Former England batsman Michael Vaughan
The tour party was selected strangely. Gary Ballance is the reserve batsman, but he's left-handed and not in form. That leaves Jos Buttler, who is really the reserve wicketkeeper and has played no cricket either. There's no harm in adding someone. I'd go with someone like Sam Billings.
Former England off-spinner Vic Marks
England have been outplayed and ultimately lost it on the second evening when all those wickets fell, but I don't sense this is a team about to disintegrate under the pressure of touring India. There will be team changes, but there is fight and purpose amongst some of the batsman and they have bowled well.
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England coach Trevor Bayliss on England's batting: "It is certainly something Alastair Cook and I will sit down and have a chat about. Ben Duckett has probably worked harder than anyone else in the nets but it show it is a long way between county cricket and Test match cricket
"I'm more than comfortable with Jos Buttler playing as a batter. He's been hitting the ball quite well in the nets."
England captain Alastair Cook: "The first day was crucial - it was a good toss to win. We saw the first day was easiest to bat. You can see the scoring rates - it became harder.
"In India you've got to score first-innings runs and try to get parity. We lost those five wickets but from that moment on we showed a lot of character and fight."
India captain Virat Kohli: "There's not much to think about for the next Test. We've been playing some really good cricket. We don't have to be complacent at all. We have nice momentum.
"We've come back from tough situations. England have played quality cricket. We need to strike the right balance of not getting too desperate and not relaxing too much either."


A fast-food restaurant has shut after a burning car went into the drive-through and set the building on fire.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Alphagate Drive, Denton Rock, Denton, Greater Manchester, caught fire shortly after 13:00 BST on Sunday.
Police said the car driver escaped unhurt and added it was not deemed suspicious.
Three crews took an hour to tackle the "car fire which spread to a fast-food restaurant", said the fire service.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said there were no passengers in the car or reports of other injuries.
Dean Gardner, who took pictures of the aftermath, said KFC staff told him the car was already on fire as it pulled up to the restaurant order window.
A KFC spokesperson said: "We're proud of the quick thinking and brave actions of our team members, and immensely relieved that no one was hurt.
"The damage is being assessed but we hope to welcome back our fans by the end of the week."
It is not known as yet how many customers or staff were in the restaurant at the time of the incident.


Rural communities are to be given a greater say on whether pharmacies open in their area.

A number of villages have unsuccessfully campaigned against the opening of pharmacies in recent years.
They have claimed local GP surgeries lose income from having their own dispensary if a pharmacy moves into the area.
The Scottish government said the new processes would give local communities a stronger voice.
It said the changes, which will come into force on 28 June, would improve arrangements for public consultation and community engagement in the wider pharmacy application process, as well as introducing statutory timeframes for health boards to reach decisions.
NHS boards will also be required to apply new tests when considering pharmacy applications in designated and clearly identified rural or remote areas.
They will be given powers to refuse a pharmacy application if they would adversely impact on the security and sustainable provision of existing NHS primary medical and pharmaceutical services in the area concerned.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "In recent years there has been understandable concern from communities in rural and remote areas about the impact that the opening of a new pharmacy might have on their local GP services.
"That's why I announced an immediate review of the existing arrangements in September last year with a view to amending the legislation.
"A key element of that review was to test a number of proposals in our public consultation earlier this year. The responses to that consultation have been independently analysed and showed broad support for our proposals - the amended regulations build on those proposals."
The Scottish government said proposed changes to the regulations had been supported by both the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland (RPSS) and the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland (RCGPS).
In her response to the consultation, Aileen Bryson of the RPSS said: "We fully support the need for dispensing doctors in remote and rural areas, where there is no possibility of providing a full NHS pharmacy service, and are delighted to see an acknowledgement of the requirement for pharmaceutical care to be provided in addition to dispensing."
Miles Mack, of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGPS), said in his response: "The designation of 'controlled remote and rural and isolated localities' will be a significant step forward in health service planning for these areas."


Iran's re-elected moderate President Hassan Rouhani has received a further boost after reformists won key council elections in the capital, Tehran.

The pro-Rouhani reformist group Omid (Hope) won all 21 seats, ousting their conservative rivals who had been in power for 14 years.
Mr Rouhani won Friday's presidential election in the first round.
He promised voters a moderate and outward-looking Iran and criticised the conservative-dominated judiciary.
Council elections were held alongside the presidential vote and the results were announced on Sunday.
The new city council must convene within 45 days when it will elect a new mayor to oversee services for Tehran's nine million residents.
Incumbent Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was a candidate in the early stages of the presidential election but dropped out to back hardliner Ebrahim Raisi.
Mr Raisi only received 38.5% of the vote, which was not enough to take the election to a second round.
President Rouhani, 68, said his resounding victory showed that voters rejected extremism and wanted more links with the outside world.
Analysts say he is in a strong position to seek reforms and to revive Iran's ailing economy.
After his re-election there were celebrations in the capital, Tehran, with crowds of young people singing and dancing in the central Vali Asr Square.
In his first speech after the result was announced Mr Rouhani said: "The Iranian nation has chosen the path of interaction with the world, a path which is distant from extremism and violence."
Mr Rouhani supports the landmark deal with world powers to curb Iran's nuclear programme.


Women who suffered "life-changing side effects" after receiving surgical implants have given evidence to a committee of MSPs.

The Scottish Mesh Survivors campaign urged the Scottish government to suspend all such implant surgery pending a safety inquiry.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said he was hoping to discuss the matter with the medicines regulator.
He added that action was being taken to make GPs more aware of the issue.
About 1,500 women in Scotland receive transvaginal mesh implants every year, usually to treat a prolapsed bladder and relieve incontinence, often as a result of childbirth.
However, some have been left in constant pain after the implants hardened, and have been told they can never have sex again.
Convenor of the petitions committee David Stewart called on the Scottish government to act.
Mr Neil said he had written to the chairman of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seeking an "urgent meeting to discuss on-going concerns over the use of transvaginal mesh implants".
He added: "It is extremely upsetting to hear the accounts of women who have experienced unimaginable suffering as a result of having this procedure.
"I personally met with some of the women affected and I am clear that no-one else should have to go through the suffering they have experienced.
"It is imperative that we have expert opinion of the full implications of the use of mesh implants and I think it is of paramount importance that we can be in a position to reassure women all across Scotland that this issue is being treated with the severity it deserves."
Hundreds of claims are due before the Scottish courts within the next year, with cases already under way in the US and Canada, where the authorities have issued warnings to hospitals.
An expert group set up by the Scottish government to look at the issue met for the first time in February.
It is developing a revised information leaflet for use in the NHS in Scotland, which will be given to women in advance of undergoing the procedure.
However, Olive McIlroy from Scottish Mesh Survivors said she wanted ministers to go further.
She said: "In a nutshell, we are asking for mesh implant surgery to be suspended pending a safety inquiry, for reporting of adverse incidents to be mandatory for doctors - currently only 12 have reported cases to the MHRA despite more than 300 women undergoing repeated operations.
"[We] want an implant register to act as an early warning system as the current system is clearly not working.
"The women have been working on new consent forms which will contain all the complications. One of the big problems has been that the women were not given proper advice before they got the operations.
"They weren't told the life changing side effects and they were not offered alternatives. We have some of the world's top docs writing to Health Secretary Alex Neil asking him to stop mesh in our hospitals."
Following the committee meeting, convener Mr Stewart said: "This is one of the most compelling petitions we have had before us.
"We heard moving and indeed heartbreaking evidence from the petitioners and the committee was united in its determination to address the issue.
"We will ask the Cabinet Secretary to give evidence at our next meeting as there must be action and there must be action now."


A contest to find a new town crier for a market town has had to be called-off due to a lack of candidates.

The historic role was put up for grabs by Marlborough Town Council following the retirement of veteran crier Alfie Johnson after 21 years.
Despite a uniform, bell and added bonus of being the town's Ale Taster included in the job perks, the town council admitted it may have been "optimistic".
But town clerk Shelley Parker, said a man had come forward who was "perfect".
Although the role these days is "entirely ceremonial", Mr Johnson said it was important a crier was a "man of the people" and not pompous.
"We've had one in this town for 800 years since the charter of King John in 1204 and it's a tradition," he said.
"It's a thing you don't want to lose because once you lose these old fashioned things - it's gone forever."
Mark Wylie, a professional town crier from nearby Calne, agreed it would not "seem right" if the town did not have "someone striding around in their tights" shouting out the news.
Despite "lots and lots of interest" in the contest initially, the town council admitted that hopefuls may have been put off by the time commitment.
But Ms Parker said a gentleman "well known locally" had come forward who fitted the role perfectly if not the uniform.
"Our current town crier is a very different shape, he's smaller and rounder and the new crier is taller and thinner, so we're going to have to have a new uniform made," she said.
"As to the tights - there are britches but we wouldn't make them [town criers] wear them if they didn't want to."


Colorado police did not heed a warning from a woman who reported seeing her neighbour outside with a rifle before he killed three people.

Naomi Bettis called emergency services before the shootings, but the dispatcher, citing the state's gun laws, said Noah Harpham had a right to carry the rifle outside and hung up.
Ms Bettis called back when Harpham killed a bicyclist outside her door.
Harpham went on to kill two more people on the streets of Colorado Springs.
Police later confronted him and shot him dead. Officials told the Colorado Spring Gazette that the dispatcher "did not deviate from policy".
The dead included two women relaxing outside an addiction recovery centre and the cyclist, who begged for his life.
"His last words were 'Please God, no,'" said Teresa Willingham, a witness to the first shooting. "He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Ms Bettis said she was not sure if the threat of violence was real or not because it was on Halloween, but she wanted to tell the 911 dispatcher what she saw.
"I don't think she probably thought it was an emergency until I made the second call, and that's when I said, 'That guy I just called you about, he just shot somebody,'" Ms Bettis told the The Washington Post.
The dispatcher's response "blew me away, like she didn't believe me or something," said Ms Bettis.
Carrying a firearm in public is legal in many states in the US.
The gunman had suffered from alcoholism, which his mother, Heather Kopp, outlined in her book entitled "Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up with a Christian Drunk".
He posted a strange video online two days before the shooting talking about his anger at his father, but did not indicate any violence to come.
A motive for the attack remains unknown.
More from the BBC - Have Colorado's new gun laws failed?
In the wake of the 2012 Aurora theatre massacre, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed laws banning the sale of ammunition magazines with more than 15 rounds and broadening the requirements for background checks before gun purchases.
Twenty months after that controversial law went into effect, the magazine ban seems not to be working as intended.
And in a western state where guns are said to be part of the way of life, the politicians who called for gun control are on the defensive. Watch Franz Strasser's report from Colorado above.


Oxford made it four wins in five years after beating Cambridge by just over a length in the 163rd Boat Race.

Oxford led throughout and although Cambridge tried to stay in touch, they were unable to get past the Dark Blues.
Earlier, Cambridge took advantage of a dreadful start by Oxford to claim a first win in the Women's Boat Race since 2012.
They dominated to win by 11 lengths in a course record of 18 minutes and 33 seconds.
In the men's race, Oxford started better and showed their strength over the course, finishing in a time of 16 minutes 59 seconds.
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The Dark Blues, who included brothers Oliver and James Cook in their crew, pushed hard around Hammersmith Bridge and although Cambridge had the higher stroke rate, Oxford were able to use their power to stay ahead.
"The harder the race, the more you can savour it at the end," Oxford president Michael Disanto, who rowed for the United States at the Rio Olympics, told BBC Sport afterwards.
"There is nothing like this. We were better on the day and we wanted it.
"In the autumn nothing was going our way and we have been building and it has culminated in this."
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Sunday's races had been in doubt after a suspected World War Two shell was discovered by the River Thames and there was more drama at the start of the women's race.
Oxford's Rebecca Esselstein made an error with her oar, known as catching a crab, and her crew never recovered.
It allowed the Light Blues, featuring four members of last year's crew who almost sank on the river, to quickly get into their rhythm.
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Catching a crab is where a rower loses control of their oar and does not remove it from the water at the end of the stroke and the oar acts as a brake, generally ending the boat's chances of winning.
Cambridge president Ashton Brown was thrilled to be on the winning side after losing in both 2015 and 2016.
"I'm so proud of the team and the squad this year." she told BBC Sport.
"I couldn't have done it without the squad and I just had an awesome job leading them."