We could discuss and argue funding all day, and as mentioned sometimes have.

But undoubtably the LTA has become much more elitist in funding, directing it much more to those that they judge very likely to reach the top echelons.

With players developing at all sorts of different rates, it now looks increasingly difficult to get the LTA's attention if you are a comparatively late developer, but where more help at the right times might just push on that later development to previously unforeseen heights.

It is an interesting policy. I am sure there are many other adjectives many folk would use.

The fact that some players seem to develop well without LTA help is in no particular way to the LTA's credit ( I don't in general buy into "tough love", though yes it will work with some ), but is indicative of poorly directed previous help and such as the culture and atmosphere at the NTC.

Re the "secrecy" on who gets funded, it appears the LTA has "evolved" from a fair amount of subjectivity ( their choices were often questioned ) to pretty rigid objectivity ( don't question our choices and fairness, we just plot them on a matrix ) to who knows ...

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 16th of October 2015 07:22:01 PM

Yes. And there was a very acrimonious row (and court case) between Yasmin Clarke and David LLoyd and his tennis set-up, and the LTA were involved because, supposedly, the Lloyd academy had fired Yasmin because her dad had asked the LTA if, possibly, Yasmin could move to the NTC. But after the Lloyd academy fired her, the LTA didn't step up and offer her an NTC place..... Think there were allegations of racism somewhere along the line too but I don't really know the details so am not quite sure.

But I think it has left the Clarke family rather disenchanted with the LTA (although, of course, the Broady family were/are too - yet it doesn't apply to all , just part).

The older brother, Curtis, is also a very good tennis player (got an ATP ranking) and, I believe, went to uni in the UK and did his degree in Sports Management or Sports Business or something like that - while at the same time, doing a lot of playing.

So is another good asset (assuming the family all get along - which is not a given but great when it does happen).

And, of course, their dad, Errol, is also a qualified coach.

In fact, it's the classic 'European' style tennis family that falls out with federation i.e. one that has tennis running through it and does it their own way. France has a lot of them. And, actually, it's one reason that I believe very strongly in the huge importance of building the base (and upwards) of the pyramid, and not fussing about the very pinnacle.

I'm so glad Jay's got a good financial sponsor. But, as Prometheus has said, it seems bizarre that nearly all our young players are now being asked to go it alone (or effectively) - a week's training or a plane ticket, here or there, hardly makes a whole heap of difference.