NTC set to close

paulisi · Tennis legend

NTC set to close

philwrig · Hall of fame

I must admit I was a bit shocked when I opened my morning paper today. Not quite sure whether the centre will be open for the likes of Laura who just want to train there.
Also not sure if Jeremy Bates is being promoted or Iain Bates being demoted.

British Swimming which is on a major upward curve uses regional performance centres. Also to some extent Athletics.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Interesting. Here's the link if people can't find it:

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/11052353/LTA-scraps-40m-National-Tennis-Centre-at-Roehampton-seven-years-after-it-opened.html

So what on earth are they going to do with 22 courts ?

Schools and charities ???

And, yes, is it going to be open for Laura and James and those who regularly use it just for training ?

Couldn't it be one of the regional performance centres ? While it's obviously not worked as planned, making it purely an admin centre seems a crying shame.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I got the impression they wanted to scrap the residential side.

I'm guessing it may be pay as you play. I'm guessing that is what happens to the foreign athletes based there such as Marta Sirotkina.

Effectively the LTA will outsource the coaching & players and the likes of Gosling, Bath, Nottingham and Bolton will benefit.

I see Bolton don't have that many "names" according to their website.

-- Edited by paulisi on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 12:49:43 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don't see how the NTC facility can be a benefit to Bath and Nottingham etc.

They're not surely going to come for the day or a 'sleepover' and use the courts?

The costs/time involved would be daft and they've got their own courts/facilities.

paulisi · Tennis legend

CD - the other centres are likely to pick up some of the players and coaches.

Bambo, Broady and Hilts likely to end up at Nottingham.

Interestingly Laura Robson tweeted that DC/ Fed Cup players like Laura could still be based there to get access to physics etc.

Alex Ward critical of negative coverage saying NTC beneficial to him.

-- Edited by paulisi on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 12:48:15 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

OK - I see what you mean re the players and coaches.

However, still don't see what they are going to do with 22 super-duper courts plus gyms plus physio rooms etc. etc. etc.

A few players using them from time to time and allowing schools a bit of access is hardly a plan.

Simon Brigg's tweet:

NTC's future not finalised yet but it will host camps for age-group squads & junior comps, plus wheelchair tennis & outreach to schools etc

Yeah, right . . .

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 23rd of August 2014 12:58:53 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

As CD said earlier, wouldn't still having it as a regional performance centre make sense, maybe in conjunction with pay as you go for others ?

These are facilities that should be getting utilised regularly by top British tennis players.

We seem to have people / planning problems much more than facility problems.

indiana · Tennis legend

Alex Ward maybe getting the wrong end of the stick / being a bit precious in his tweet.

Certainly Simon Briggs article, at least, seems to be aiming criticism at the LTA and not the players.

There have clearly been some good developments among some players, within and nitably outwith the NTC, and I am sure there are benefits of the NTC, but there does seem to have been a lack of clear thinking and strategy from the LTA. Maybe too much of a flagship, look at this from Roger Draper and co then developing best and most appropriate use.

steven · Tennis legend

I think Alex was just having a go at the general impression the media always gives that all those at the NTC are slackers with a large sense of entitlement. No doubt that's true of some of them, but I'm not surprised he doesn't think it's fair for them all to be tarred with the same brush.

Spectator · All-time great

Which was indeed the impression given by the article - witness "Yet there were problems from the beginning. At first, a culture emerged of partying and fast living among these privileged teenagers living away from home. More recently, a watchman was introduced to keep the peace in the evenings, but the fundamental issue, an overdeveloped sense of entitlement, was harder to tackle."

Given that quote (and the implication that only those who left for "less cushy deals" have progressed), I would agree that Mr Ward's comments are quite understandable.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I tend to agree with Indy.

I read the article as far more critical of the LTA than the players.

After all, the ethos of a place comes from the top down.

indiana · Tennis legend

Fair, Spectator, in that part certainly is aimed at the players in a too all encompassing way, though probably with some truth. It is though in the culture created by the LTA, and still seemed very much being highlighted as a problem of the buildings, plans and culture the LTA.

Then again I tend to be already clapping at anyone having a go at Roger the Dodger !

To me, it still rightly reads as very much aimed at the LTA. We have costly failure here in that noone can remotely claim this is some sort of grand plan.

But hopefully, what is now being done will be for the overall good, though I would like to see much more clarity as to how these facilities are now to be used.

sherbert · Lower Club Player

From what I know - the NTC will only really be used for Davis Cup players - not heard of other uses it will have. I think Nottingham will probably become the main centre as a couple of the high up coaches are said to be moving there. But as you've said Gosling, Bath and Bolton will also be big centres now.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So the Fed and Davis Cup players get to practice there before their matches (once or twice a year), some junior training camps get run in the school holidays, schools and charities can use it once in a while and wheelchair tennis gets a boost ?????

22 pristine courts and all the gyms and added facilities and equipment ??? I'm sorry ???

Maybe the admin staff can have a knock around in their lunch break ? Or will that be banned too ?