Thursday, 11 March, 2010

Andy Murray's former coach Mark Petchey has called on Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper to resign - or be pushed.

In a blistering attack on Draper's four-year reign, Petchey believes the Davis Cup defeat by Lithuania last weekend should be used as an opportunity for change at the top.

The 39-year-old, formerly the head of men's training at the LTA, told the Daily Telegraph: "This is about the structure of British tennis, about the vision of the LTA. Either Draper has to resign or the (LTA) council has to get off its hands and force him out."

He added: "Unfortunately, I very much doubt whether Draper will resign, so it's going to take the council to do something.

"Draper has failed as the chief executive, his whole vision for British tennis has failed.

"He has spent an extraordinary amount of money over the past few years, millions and millions of pounds, and where has it got us? Nowhere. I think we're in a worse position with men's tennis than we were when Draper took over.

"It would be expensive to sack Draper and pay him off, but that would still be better than for him to carry on."

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