LTA Warned That Reputation Is At ‘all Time Low’

The All-Party Tennis Group has criticised the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for the lack of transparency in its spending and warned that public esteem for the LTA is at an ‘all time low’.

In a letter to Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, Baroness Angela Billingham said: ‘Given the remarkable level of expenditure, in excess of £60m annually, it should be possible to deliver better outcomes than at present… esteem for the LTA seems to be at an all-time low.’

Sutcliffe asked an investigation to be carried out to review the workings of the LTA.

Billingham said that as the Government has contributed £26.8min the past four years to the LTA, the group felt ‘totally entitled’  to seek assurances that the public’s money is being spent in an appropriate manner.

The LTA’s chief executive Roger Draper has defended the LTA’s spending and pointed out that he was only four years in to his 10-year plan to revitalise British tennis.

In an official statement, the LTA said it was also happy to explain how it uses its public funding and denied any Sport England money had gone into the payment of bonuses.

Sport England said it would be publishing a first annual review of the LTA’s activities later in the year.

Roger Draper, CEO of the LTA will be speaking at The Sport Industry Breakfast Club on 8th June.

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