He was only part-time - and I don't think he worked at Loughborough at all.
I'm not sure the LTA should be deciding the location of its two flagship academies based purely on one guy.
However, Stirling (or anywhere that is really difficult travel to) is a weird choice.
And, yes, a joint academy is possible, although you'd have to have a business plan for the UK academy site whilst it had upped sticks and gone to its 'warmer' site. (Although that doesn't seem very difficult)
The LTA can't possibly admit its past heavy reliance on foreign teaching/facilities. They're way to far into their facade now.
However, it is better to keep academies and their facilities further away from "civilization" for future construction reasons, to keep the parents away and control the behaviour of any "lodgers".
I'm sure the LTA wouldn't miss a chance for a high profile sacking to boost their own position so that didn't happen and am 95% sure this had nothing to do with the virus, will wait and see how this one unfolds.
The LTA can't possibly admit its past heavy reliance on foreign teaching/facilities. They're way to far into their facade now.
However, it is better to keep academies and their facilities further away from "civilization" for future construction reasons, to keep the parents away and control the behaviour of any "lodgers".
I'm sure the LTA wouldn't miss a chance for a high profile sacking to boost their own position so that didn't happen and am 95% sure this had nothing to do with the virus, will wait and see how this one unfolds.
Hmm suspect it's more to do with a certain tennis royalty than anything else more nefarious. I'm not suggesting that the Murrays had any say in the decision, more maybe someone else thought it was a good idea as it had been so succesful for them, forgetting that Andy went off to Spain. 1 centre in Spain, 1 in an accessible place in the UK and 3 month rotations would have been a better idea. Doing most of the coaching indoors doesn't seem the brightest idea to me.
Reading the Daily Mail online the 2 academies were the brain child of the then Performance Director Simon Timson. In July 2020 he moved on to a similar post at Manchester City Football Club. So he won't be around to see if the academies are a success or not. Prior to tennis he had performance director posts in British Skeleton (which produced 2 Olympic medalists), the English cricket Board and UK Sport.
Sounds like this kind of thing happens when you put people in suits with no real practical experience in the field in charge of such things.
Bob I met the ex director of La Manga recently, makes a good living for himself however he and everyone else involved knows the benefit of keeping La Manga solely a social tennis operation. I remember hearing they had gone broke many years ago then I think it was bought by the LTA making it a potential sound idea, but the problems with British tennis are much much deeper than "not having the right weather for it" as they seem to permanently use as a scapegoat.
This might make the LTA academy initiative look quite fruitless, Colin Fleming perhaps needs to stick to doubles only over "producing Britain's next best tennis players" as he is relatively clueless to the individual tennis game when on commentary.
A job advert was recently posted for this position at Stirling Academy, will be interesting who they get in, perhaps someone who is dedicated to the cause and British tennis over someone fancy with some might say "questionable" allegiance. I can't speak as I'm sure I would find it difficult to turn down the amount of money the LTA would throw at me to receive minimal return
Sounds like this kind of thing happens when you put people in suits with no real practical experience in the field in charge of such things.
Bob I met the ex director of La Manga recently, makes a good living for himself however he and everyone else involved knows the benefit of keeping La Manga solely a social tennis operation. I remember hearing they had gone broke many years ago then I think it was bought by the LTA making it a potential sound idea, but the problems with British tennis are much much deeper than "not having the right weather for it" as they seem to permanently use as a scapegoat.
This might make the LTA academy initiative look quite fruitless, Colin Fleming perhaps needs to stick to doubles only over "producing Britain's next best tennis players" as he is relatively clueless to the individual tennis game when on commentary.
A job advert was recently posted for this position at Stirling Academy, will be interesting who they get in, perhaps someone who is dedicated to the cause and British tennis over someone fancy with some might say "questionable" allegiance. I can't speak as I'm sure I would find it difficult to turn down the amount of money the LTA would throw at me to receive minimal return
