David Atkins, chief executive of David Atkins Enterprises, who lost out to JMW for the tender, believes the role they played in the American firm’s victory should be examined, despite a probity auditor recently ruling the process was conducted fairly.

JMW, whose London office had conceived, planned, and delivered the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the last edition of the Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow in 2014, were chosen for the Ceremonies, which sparked outrage among the three losing bidders as well as opposition to the Queensland Government.

Auckland, recently appointed Gold Coast 2018 Ceremonies manager having worked as head of Ceremonies delivery at Glasgow 2014, was employed JMW for nine years and his partner Celia was with them up until 2014.

The couple then went on to form their own company called Red Thread Solutions (RTS).

Their involvement in the process forced Gold Coast 2018 to deny any accusations of a conflict of interest after it was revealed the couple offered technical advice to the Bid Evaulation Committee.

Gold Coast 2018 head of communications Marcus Taylor claimed the couple had no input to the selection panel and “had no role in recommending or appointing the Ceremonies contract”.

The audit confirmed there was no conflict of interest but did suggest the “potential for a perception of a conflict of interest".

“What we've identified and what we're concerned about is that there are a number of people associated with the panel and the assessment process that have recent and very strong associations with the winning tenderer,” Atkins, the artistic director of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, said.

“The Minister [for the Commonwealth Games] and the audit he has done separately and independently, to say there's a perception of that, is significant.”

Red Thread Solutions have continually denied any wrongdoing within the process and reaffirmed their position in a statement sent to insidethegames.

"Throughout their 20-plus year careers in the events industry, Mik Auckland and Celia Smith have maintained professional relationships and friendships with many industry professionals, including Ric Birch, David Atkins, Julie Brooks and David Zolkwer," the statement read.

“Neither RTS, the company, nor Celia or Mik as individuals, stood to benefit financially, professionally or personally from any one particular company being appointed as the successful bidder.

“RTS secured the contract to provide technical advice to GOLDOC (Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation) through an open tender process.

"RTS adhered at all times to the probity instructions issued by GOLDOC.

"RTS strenuously denies any allegations of impropriety or wrongdoing."

Queensland's Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe told Parliament in Brisbane last week that the complaints of companies beaten for the contract had been examined by probity auditor BDO Australia and that no rules had been broken but he himself has expressed concern about the lack of communication given to the losing bidders.

The issue has been a constant thorn in the side of organisers for the Commonwealth Games and prompted those who lost out to call for a review of the process.

They also wrote a scathing letter to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to contest the appointment of JMW as they felt there are local Australian companies who would do a better job of the Ceremonies.

“We worked really very, very hard and for a long time on that bid,” Atkins added.

“Not only that, we'd also won the previous tender for the handover ceremonies with all those same companies bidding a year and a half earlier.

“So we felt we had developed a good relationship with GOLDOC and would've expected a slightly more conciliatory response than we got.”