Is Nepotism Acceptable If It Involves Andy Murray?

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Andy Murray's mother has just been appointed as Fed. cup captain by the LTA. She replaces the father of Murrays long term girlfriend. This after Leon Smith (probably the least experienced captain in history) was given the role of Davis Cup captain ahead of Greg Rusedski (the obvious candidate veteran of 43 rubbers). Its accepted that Smith got the job because of his links with Murray.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2010/04/way_back_in_a_time.html

Murray himself is becoming increasingly vocal about the runnings of the LTA, Davis Cup etc. One of his latest outbursts was about LTA funding for players over 18. Does his brother Jamie recieve funding? He is a little over 18.

From the Times (PPV) after the recent appointment of Judy (Murray's mother)

a single family have never had a firmer stranglehold on the top flight of British tennis than the Murrays do.

I know this may be difficult for Murray fans but try and be inpartial. Is Nepotism a good thing. Once it is installed it is difficult to shake off. How would you feel personally if you were a more qualified candidate being overlooked? Is it good for the LTA to be bound by the views of one family?

Some relevant points are brought up in this discussion "Is Nepotism Ever Acceptable?" Interesting that despite not being related to the LTA and Andy Murray it talks about the problem of tennis club parents stifling social mobility...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/10/social-mobility-debate-cohen-johnson

calder 106

Sorry if I miss read your comment.

I think we both agree that a Fed Captains role is different to that of a coach? I think we also agree that at least a big part of the reason for Judy getting the role was because she is Murray's mother? Neither of us can come up with a name of someone suitable?

That to me is quite a lot of agreement...

But I am not as certain as you that someone more suitable doesn't exist. Someone who has played Fed Cup or coached a Fed Cup team? They don't even have to be British. Even a male ex player who has played or coached Davis Cup.

I don't know what Judy Murry is being paid for he role but considering its high profile within British Tennis and considering the LTA isn't short of cash to throw around (the LTA recieved £35,174,000 (surplus) from this years Wimbledon championship) I imagine it would be enough to attract high profile names with relevent qualifications.

Just checked the Times and I can see 3 articles on the subject. "Overdue appointment offers Judy the mother superior role", "Murray family united under Roehampton roof" and "Judy Murray can bring motherly instincts to bear on LTA's young and gifted". I have read them all and maybe even quoted from them. I don't think they are negative about Judy's appointment but I do think they have left questions unanswered. The questions concern how acceptable it is for one family to have such a stanglehold on top flight British tennis?

The Fed Cup rules state that the captain has to be a passport holder for the country they are captaining (didn't know that myself before but just looked it up). That precludes bring in someone from another country. If we take Virginia Wade comments it would appear that she think the captain should be female and have been involved the game recently. So the field the drastically reduced. I can't think of any recent female ex-players who fit.
If you look at the male side yes there is Greg (I don't dislike him) but he currently is on a learning curve with regards to coaching/captaincy himself.

From the "Overdue appointment offers Judy the mother superior role" article part of the role that Judy Murray has is to encourage and facilitate more women to get involved in coaching as at present there appears to be a shortage of them. That can only be positive IMO.

Just read latest article in The Times (PPV) about Judy Murray's new role "Judy Murray sees Poland as main Fed Cup threat to Great Britain".

“Leon contacted me a few weeks ago to say he was taking over the women’s side
and asked if I would be interested in a role, in particular with the Fed
Cup, which of course for me would be a massive honour to be able to lead out
your country.” Murray said. “I was getting to the stage where I was ready
for a new challenge.

“I had to think about it a bit because it’s a question of freeing up enough
time to be able to do it well. You would never want to take on something
like this and then find you didn’t have the time to devote to it. Anything I
take on is to put my heart and soul into it and really try to make it work.

The Leon in question is Leon Smith. The article also states that Leon Smith is also the Lawn Tennis
Association’s head of women’s tennis. I didn't know that?...

Leon Smith is also "Probably the least experienced British captain in history, having
neither played Davis Cup nor coached full-time on the professional
circuit, the Scotsman has been thrown into the spotlight from a position
of relative anonymity"


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2010/04/way_back_in_a_time.html


It is widely acknowledged that Smith got the Davis Cup role over the "obvious candidate, Greg Rusedski, a veteran of 43 Davis Cup rubbers"because of his connections with Andy Murray.


So Smith got the Davis cup job because of his connections with Andy Murray and is now head of womens tennis too? He appointed Murray's mother as Fed Cup captain? My head is spinning with the tight closed circle that this involves.


Please note that I have said nothing bad about the character, enthusiasm or skills of anyone involved.

Calder106 Have just seen your latest comment. I didn't know about the passport requirements. Thats good research. Have to disagree with you over the relative qualifications of Rusedski and Smith for the job. Nice that you don't dislike Greg though. I don't know why he doesn't get much love around here...

Although the opposition hasn't been up to that much since he took charge, but under his leadership GB are 4 wins from 4 and a record of 18-2 in terms of matches.

We'll see how things go in the next year, but it's a pretty decent start.

Under Rusedski, we could still be in Euro/Africa Group 2, but we'll never know. His lack of experience of coaching could have let the team down.

OK................once again, there is no way whatsoever that Rusedski was the obvious candidate for the job. Being a good player does not necessarily make you a good captain. Happy accident or not (I can't vouch for RDs thinking), Leon Smith has proved extremely adept in the role and players such as James Ward have shown distinct improvement both in Davis Cup matches and tour matches. He has a far stronger coaching history than Rusedski http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Smith_(tennis_coach)and is far less likely to p$%s everyone off by speaking before he thinks. His smile ain't bad either

For (hopefully) the final time - these people are in post through years of hard work and because they are the best candidates currenty available.

Hawkeye A bit of a mis-understanding in our last exchange. My reference to Greg Rudeski was in relation to the Fed Cup captaincy in that he had no more coaching experience than Judy Murray.

A couple of interesting articles below. In the first one you will see Leon Smith's coaching experience it shows that he joined the LTA in a similar role to what Greg is doing now with the u16's and has progressed from there. Like in any profession if you impress your employers by doing well in a role you stand a good chance of getting promoted.

In the second you will see that Greg Rudeski has signed a four year contract to continue in the role he is currently carrying out. Therefore he can't be too upset with his lot. I would expect that if he continues to do this well he too will progress up the ladder.

Remember being a good ex-tennis player does not automatically make you a good captain. John Lloyd being a good example.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/15267195.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/15255096.stm

As a general rule, I don't like nepotism. For example, if my Dad offered me a cushy job in his cushy company, I would likely refuse it. If my own son or daughter was struggling economically, I would rather give them money than a job (if I owned a company). Don't know much about this situation though.

I do though nepotism in other countries is probably worse than in the UK, especially when you make it into a wider issue including things like friends, tribal ethnicity and social class.

Perhaps we should ask the Swiss-educated, no, not Federer, but the 20 year old Kim Jong-un, what Nepotism is really all about.

I don't know why all those Koreans looked so shocked about this death, with a name like "ill" what did they expect? They should have seen this coming!

Henman Bill wrote:I don't know why all those Koreans looked so shocked about this death, with a name like "ill" what did they expect? They should have seen this coming!

Where is JHM when you need him?

laverfan wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:I don't know why all those Koreans looked so shocked about this death, with a name like "ill" what did they expect? They should have seen this coming!

Where is JHM when you need him?

I hope the same fate doesn't befall Henman B-ill

JuliusHMarx wrote:

laverfan wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:I don't know why all those Koreans looked so shocked about this death, with a name like "ill" what did they expect? They should have seen this coming!

Where is JHM when you need him?

I hope the same fate doesn't befall Henman B-ill

JHM, Fantastic.

On a serious note, please stay hale and hearty, HB.

So to recap the Murray family are now at the helm of both mens and womens tennis in this country. Leon Smith appointed Murrays mother as Fed Cup Captain it appears without looking at any other candidates.

Presumably this lock in would make it very difficult for anyone not on their friends list to get a look in at any of the top jobs within the LTA. The well qualified Rusedski failed to secure a job despite being the obvious choice even prior to these arrangements. I had thought given his huge success with the junior Davis Cup team that it was only a matter of time before he got the job he both wants and is suited to. Now I'm not sure. Not given the fact that Andy Murray has made no secret of the fact that he doesn't "like" him. Why? Who knows.

The LTA unlike many other tennis federations is awash with cash. It recieved £35,174,000 (surplus) from this years Wimbledon championship. Thats an annual income! The Murray family now have a big say in how this money is spent and who recieves it.

No wonder the LTA is a little coy about the details of Murray's mothers contract

The LTA is coy about how much time it has contracted Murray for but it
is estimated to be about 100 days. And we do not know the value of the
Murray mint either, though she will not come cheap.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/dec/19/judy-murray-young-talent-fun?INTCMP=SRCH

The LTA has more money than it knows what to do with.

How much should a part time Captain of a Fed Cup team be payed? Has anyone watched any Fed Cup recently? GB is in a lower group. Why the high profile (because of her son) and therefore ultra expensive option?

Can I see something which says that Judy Murray is an 'ultra expensive' option for Fed Cup Captain? How do you know that no other candidate was looked at? Were you at the interviews?

We're going round in circles with you here though, Rusedski is in no way more qualified than Judy Murray to be captain of the Fed Cup team. Both in terms of coaching experience and success, and also suitability to look after and relate to a group of young (often teenage) women.

To anyone looking at this situation pragmatically (that is without serious issues regarding Andy Murray and family) it's quite a sensible appointment.

djlovesyou

It was the guardian that speculated that she won't come cheap. Of course she won't! As I said the LTA have been quoted as being "coy" about the whole contract. Who would decide the financial details of the contract? Leon Smith? Ha ha!

Judy Murray was aproached directly by Leon Smith (who got his job or I should say jobs because of his connections with the Murray family)and offered the job. Do you really think he would have approached others at the same time?


I think the situation were one family have a stranglehold on an organisation such as the LTA with an unearned income of in excess of 34 million pounds should be looked at very carefully regardless of who the family is. Especially when it is known that already a well qualified candidate may have been blocked from an important role within it because he is "not liked" by another family member who is not even employed by that organisation.

Of course with Rusedski I'm talking about his job as Davis Cup captain. I certainly don't think Rusedski should be or would want to be Fed Cup captain...

But Leon Smith has a virtually perfect record as Davis Cup captain since his appointment.

Even you have to admit that.

The LTA could have made a terrible mistake if they'd hired absolute coaching novice Rusedski as captain. And now, even with his low-key babysitting success, they can't drop someone who's had a perfect record can they?

Where you get 'well qualified candidate' from, I don't know? He has zero coaching experience. Nice smile though, if that's what you mean by well qualified?

You may not like Rusedski but your dismissal of him is over the top. He was the favourite for the post. Smith was the shock. That isn't an opinion its a fact.

hawkeye wrote:So to recap the Murray family are now at the helm of both mens and womens tennis in this country. Leon Smith appointed Murrays mother as Fed Cup Captain it appears without looking at any other candidates.

One candidate they apparently missed is a poster on 606v2.

He was only favourite for the post because he's high profile and probably spoke to the press about it. Someone who hasn't got a public profile is hardly going to be putting their name about in public.

This doesn't mean that he should have got the job, particularly as he had absolutely zero coaching experience.

I don't dislike Rusedski, I'm just dealing in facts.

Smith getting the job may have been a shock to you, but just because people hadn't heard of him, doesn't mean he's bad for the job does it?

'The LTA unlike many other tennis federations is awash with cash. It recieved £35,174,000 (surplus) from this years Wimbledon championship. Thats an annual income! The Murray family now have a big say in how this money is spent and who recieves it.'

You keep throwing this fact out. The LTA has had this sort of money for years and years and how many good players have GB produced. Not very many and most of these have progressed outside of the LTA structure. Therefore the money has not been that well used up until now. Like in any business Leon Smith will have a budget to work within and likewise Judy Murray. They are both employees of the LTA as is Greg Rudeski.

For interest the players receiving the highest level funding in 2012 are in the follwing article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2070207/LTA-23-contracted-players-2012.html

djlovesyou I am repeating myself but...

The LTA risks a backlash after ignoring the claims of the obvious candidate, Greg Rusedski, a veteran of 43 Davis Cup rubbers who was supported, if not by Murray, by a number of the other players.LTA player director Steven Martens,
who made the appointment after consulting the British top 10, was at
pains to point out he wasn't running a "popularity contest".A number of
votes for Rusedski proved insufficient as Martens decided instead to go
down the diplomatic route.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2010/04/way_back_in_a_time.html

The LTA risked a backlash by not appointing Rusedski. He was the obvious candidate. He even won the democratic vote. But he was not "backed by Murray". Martins decided to ignore all this and go down "the diplomatic route" ie appoint a member the Murray clan.

If not for Murray Rusedski would have got the job. The candidate that did was unexpected. Are you suggesting that Leon Smith would have got this job without his Murray connections?

That is all in the past. The Fed Cup role including the financial package was discussed behind closed doors by two members of the Murray clan. Now any new positions within the LTA will presumably have to have the approval of the the Murray clan... including Andy Murray who is not even directly employed by the LTA.



The question remains should one family have such control of the LTA, all its money and influence all its decision making?

Yes they should.

hawkeye wrote:A number of votes for Rusedski proved insufficient

hawkeye wrote:He even won the democratic vote.

How do you draw the conclusion that Rusedski won? Are there words that us mere mortals cannot see, that your third eye can?

Calder106

I know the LTA hasn't just become rich. How it has been spent in the past and how it should be best spent now are all important questions.

At the moment it looks like one family will have a big influence on how this money is spent including who is hired and how much they are paid (including themselves!). No family has been in this position before.

IMO this shouldn't go unquestioned. Money is very attractive and so is power.

amritia3ee wrote:Yes they should.

Ha ha! You just want one of those lucrative jobs.

hawkeye wrote:djlovesyou I am repeating myself but...

The LTA risks a backlash after ignoring the claims of the obvious candidate, Greg Rusedski, a veteran of 43 Davis Cup rubbers who was supported, if not by Murray, by a number of the other players.LTA player director Steven Martens,
who made the appointment after consulting the British top 10, was at
pains to point out he wasn't running a "popularity contest".A number of
votes for Rusedski proved insufficient as Martens decided instead to go
down the diplomatic route.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2010/04/way_back_in_a_time.html

The LTA risked a backlash by not appointing Rusedski. He was the obvious candidate. He even won the democratic vote. But he was not "backed by Murray". Martins decided to ignore all this and go down "the diplomatic route" ie appoint a member the Murray clan.

If not for Murray Rusedski would have got the job. The candidate that did was unexpected. Are you suggesting that Leon Smith would have got this job without his Murray connections?

That is all in the past. The Fed Cup role including the financial package was discussed behind closed doors by two members of the Murray clan. Now any new positions within the LTA will presumably have to have the approval of the the Murray clan... including Andy Murray who is not even directly employed by the LTA.

The question remains should one family have such control of the LTA, all its money and influence all its decision making?

It would obviously be better having the clear UK No.1 having a non-existent relationship with the Davis Cup coach I mean we'd have a far better chance of getting back in the world group and actually inspiring the youngsters, wouldn't we??

Given the impact the Murray's have had on the British game in comparison to anyone else, it says more about your naivety and simplistic view of the world - that you'd think these things wouldn't be discussed with them

To answer your last question. No problem, if it's the Murray's. Big problem if it was Rudseski and his missus

hawkeye wrote:Calder106

I know the LTA hasn't just become rich. How it has been spent in the past and how it should be best spent now are all important questions.

At the moment it looks like one family will have a big influence on how this money is spent including who is hired and how much they are paid (including themselves!). No family has been in this position before.

IMO this shouldn't go unquestioned. Money is very attractive and so is power.

Leon Smith is not a Murray family member in case you hadn't noticed. He did coach Andy at one time but has not since at least 2006. He was employed by the LTA in 2007. Don't think there were any Murray's in positions of power at the LTA then. He obviously showed enough potential to be given the Davis Cup captain in 2010. Again there were no Murray's in positions of power at the LTA then. Andy Murray's comments on the appointment have allready been linked in this thread but as usual you chose to ignore them as they conflicted with your agenda. Yes he has now employed Judy Murray who he has worked with before and knows what she can bring to the table. Again this is a common practice in business. I have still to see anyone come up with a better candidate for the role so assume that most people think the appointment is sensible.

Calder106

Do you think Smith would have got the role as Davis cup captain without his connections with the Murray family?

I didn't ignore the links to Murrays comments. I just didn't think they were that relevant. I think he said something like having Smith as captain wouldn't make him more likely to play. I don't think it has. It's handy for Murray having Smith in the role as Smith made it clear he wouldn't put pressure on Murray to play. So Murray doesn't risk the sort of public criticism he got fom John Lloyd.

I don't know enough about the LTA to come up with a better candidate. All I know is that the appointment was questioned by Virginia Wade who I trust to know what she's talking about. Everyone here talks about Murray's mums coaching ability, nurturing skills (as a mother) and enthusiasm. These are all skills that are not unique to her even if someone with more relevant skills and experience is difficult to find.

I think I'm probably fighting a battle I cannot win here as most refuse to acknowledge that Rusedski was qualified for the Davis Cup role.

hawkeye wrote:

I don't know enough about the LTA to come up with a better candidate.

Good of you to admit it. Why all the posting about how bad the appointment is when you haven't got a clue about the situation?

I think I'm probably fighting a battle I cannot win here as most refuse to acknowledge that Rusedski was qualified for the Davis Cup role.

People refuse to acknowledge it because it's not true. Why would they appoint a novice coach, when they have options of people with experience?

hawkeye wrote:I think I'm probably fighting a battle I cannot win here ...

... then it is graceful to accept defeat. Just ask the 127 players at some of the recent grand slams?

hawkeye wrote:I think I'm probably fighting a battle I cannot win here as most refuse to acknowledge that Rusedski was qualified for the Davis Cup role.

As DJ says, we refuse to acknowledge it because it simply isn't true. Any impartial observer looking at their relative skill set and coaching/mentoring experience would clearly see that Leon Smith was the better qualified candidate. Any positive relationship with the British no. 1 is a bonus.

hawkeye wrote:Calder106

Do you think Smith would have got the role as Davis cup captain without his connections with the Murray family?

I didn't ignore the links to Murrays comments. I just didn't think they were that relevant. I think he said something like having Smith as captain wouldn't make him more likely to play. I don't think it has. It's handy for Murray having Smith in the role as Smith made it clear he wouldn't put pressure on Murray to play. So Murray doesn't risk the sort of public criticism he got fom John Lloyd.

I don't know enough about the LTA to come up with a better candidate. All I know is that the appointment was questioned by Virginia Wade who I trust to know what she's talking about. Everyone here talks about Murray's mums coaching ability, nurturing skills (as a mother) and enthusiasm. These are all skills that are not unique to her even if someone with more relevant skills and experience is difficult to find.

I think I'm probably fighting a battle I cannot win here as most refuse to acknowledge that Rusedski was qualified for the Davis Cup role.

You didn't read all of what he said. Just to remind you ' Murray suggested last night that Smith's appointment would make zero difference as to whether he plays or not: "If I want to play, I'm playing for the team. It's not that I'm playing because Leon's the captain.

"I hope that was not the reason why he became captain. I don't think that's the way to make a decision on something as big as this."

Think this shows that he was not personally instrumental in Leon Smith getting the Davis Cup captain role.

hawkeye wrote:Andy Murray's mother has just been appointed as Fed. cup captain by the LTA. She replaces the father of Murrays long term girlfriend. This after Leon Smith (probably the least experienced captain in history) was given the role of Davis Cup captain ahead of Greg Rusedski (the obvious candidate veteran of 43 rubbers). Its accepted that Smith got the job because of his links with Murray.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2010/04/way_back_in_a_time.html

Murray himself is becoming increasingly vocal about the runnings of the LTA, Davis Cup etc. One of his latest outbursts was about LTA funding for players over 18. Does his brother Jamie recieve funding? He is a little over 18.

From the Times (PPV) after the recent appointment of Judy (Murray's mother)

a single family have never had a firmer stranglehold on the top flight of British tennis than the Murrays do.

I know this may be difficult for Murray fans but try and be inpartial. Is Nepotism a good thing. Once it is installed it is difficult to shake off. How would you feel personally if you were a more qualified candidate being overlooked? Is it good for the LTA to be bound by the views of one family?



Some relevant points are brought up in this discussion "Is Nepotism Ever Acceptable?" Interesting that despite not being related to the LTA and Andy Murray it talks about the problem of tennis club parents stifling social mobility...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/10/social-mobility-debate-cohen-johnson

So far so good for the Judy Murray appointment. GB thrash Portugal 3-0 in their first Federation Cup match under Judy Murray.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

hawkeye wrote:Andy Murray's mother has just been appointed as Fed. cup captain by the LTA. She replaces the father of Murrays long term girlfriend. This after Leon Smith (probably the least experienced captain in history) was given the role of Davis Cup captain ahead of Greg Rusedski (the obvious candidate veteran of 43 rubbers). Its accepted that Smith got the job because of his links with Murray.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2010/04/way_back_in_a_time.html

Murray himself is becoming increasingly vocal about the runnings of the LTA, Davis Cup etc. One of his latest outbursts was about LTA funding for players over 18. Does his brother Jamie recieve funding? He is a little over 18.

From the Times (PPV) after the recent appointment of Judy (Murray's mother)

a single family have never had a firmer stranglehold on the top flight of British tennis than the Murrays do.

I know this may be difficult for Murray fans but try and be inpartial. Is Nepotism a good thing. Once it is installed it is difficult to shake off. How would you feel personally if you were a more qualified candidate being overlooked? Is it good for the LTA to be bound by the views of one family?



Some relevant points are brought up in this discussion "Is Nepotism Ever Acceptable?" Interesting that despite not being related to the LTA and Andy Murray it talks about the problem of tennis club parents stifling social mobility...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/10/social-mobility-debate-cohen-johnson

So far so good for the Judy Murray appointment. GB thrash Portugal 3-0 in their first Federation Cup match under Judy Murray.

Correction, under Andy Murray

For what it's worth the following observation came from the lips of the mother of one of our most promising juniors (You'll have to take my word for that one).

"Everything at the LTA appears now to revolve around the Murrays"

Now in a way that's understandable given Andy standing but it means that what his mother wants she also seems to get. It wasn't so long ago though that Judy Murray was a very fierce critic of the LTA but for some reason or another has "sold" out. I wonder why?

newballs wrote:For what it's worth the following observation came from the lips of the mother of one of our most promising juniors (You'll have to take my word for that one).

"Everything at the LTA appears now to revolve around the Murrays"

Now in a way that's understandable given Andy standing but it means that what his mother wants she also seems to get. It wasn't so long ago though that Judy Murray was a very fierce critic of the LTA but for some reason or another has "sold" out. I wonder why?

Ooo! newballs you are such a tease. Please tell us more. I love gossip!

What they did was, promise her a 5 star hotel for 2.

Feliciano concurred

newballs wrote:"Everything at the LTA appears now to revolve around the Murrays"

They obviously believe in keeping their friends close and their enemies closer still

I personally think that Mrs M has a lot of passion for the game, appears to want GB to do well and seems to get on well with the top girls. I’m not privy to the internal politics, of course, but from the outside it appears to be a good move

newballs wrote:For what it's worth the following observation came from the lips of the mother of one of our most promising juniors (You'll have to take my word for that one).

"Everything at the LTA appears now to revolve around the Murrays"

Erm. It's not a certain junior with a reasonably successful older sister is it?

hawkeye I'll keep you informed!

bradman don't disagree with your verdict on Mrs. M but I wonder how hard the LTA considered claims from any other potential candidates.

Appointing Leon Smith then moving the Davis Cup to Glasgow and finally elevating Mrs. Murray to Fed Cup captain. What next? Dig up Roehampton LTA tennis centre and transport it to the Highlands I imagine?

Hmm.....they could do with more tennis facilities up in Scotland. Woefully under represented by LTA especially given proportion of top Brits from north of the border.

djlovesyou wrote:

newballs wrote:For what it's worth the following observation came from the lips of the mother of one of our most promising juniors (You'll have to take my word for that one).

"Everything at the LTA appears now to revolve around the Murrays"

Erm. It's not a certain junior with a reasonably successful older sister is it?

What the one who posed next to a certain type of vending machine ?

Certainly not! I have my standards!

I take your point newballs but I do wonder what either of the Murray’s gain from monopolising the LTA? AM is so completely established that he really doesn’t need the LTA at all; he’ll just go round the globe doing very well in all tournaments he enters making a small fortune whether or not the LTA existed or not. JM? Well, I assume pretty much the same as she is part of AM’s entourage. So is it just kowtowing? And (tongue in cheek here) what if we did allow the Murray’s to run the LTA? Let’s face it, they really couldn’t do much worse than the current bunch, could they?

So if he'd said it, you would have disregarded his comments because of his sister's 'disgraceful (?)' behaviour.

Odd stuff.

dj loves you believe it or not I'm sure the Broadys are a decent bunch.

Also, in all honesty, I admire their stance of having nothing to do with the LTA as I don't think it's up to the LTA to dictate how our professional tennis players go about earning their living. They oversee the game and can dish out advice but this is not some kind of nanny state we live in.

Regarding behavioural issues sure they can advise but shouldn't go round basically slagging all their junior players off in public when they disapprove.
That said Miss Broady would have been better off not posting her nocturnal antics for public consumption..

So Team Murray is through to the finals regardless of the result of their own current match.

They'll play Austria for a place in the World Group Playoffs.