LTA put Queen’s Club on market for £ 40m
THE Lawn Tennis Association announced yesterday that they are selling Queen’s Club, their west London headquarters and one of the world’s most prestigious tennis clubs, on the open market. The sale could raise more than £ 40 million for the development of the sport.
It is understood that the LTA, who have owned the club since 1953, have included certain restrictions on the 120-year lease that will guarantee the future of the Stella Artois tournament, the leading men’s warm-up event for the grass- court Wimbledon Championships.
The future ownership of Queen’s Club has been the subject of increased speculation since the LTA disclosed that they will move headquarters to the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton, in south-west London, by the start of 2007. Many of the club members have already voiced their concerns about the possibility of the 14-acre site in Barons Court being sold to a corporate bidder.
A group of disaf fected members claimed last year that there were documents dating from the 1950s which might prevent the LTA from selling the club on the open market. The group have suggested that the members should be given fi rst refusal, and earlier this year they threatened the LTA with legal action in an attempt to block the possibility of the club being sold on the open market.
But John Crowther, the chief executive of the LTA, said that he “felt totally comfor table” about sel l ing Queen’s Club on the open market. “We have not seen any information or documents that suggest otherwise. We have asked the members involved to show us the documents, but we have not been shown any documents that suggest that,” Crowther said last night.
There were also some reports that the members may still decide to bid for the club, which dates back to 1886 and was named after Queen Victoria, its first patron. The club was sold to the LTA in 1953 because of “an embarrassing lack of capital”, according to a letter from the club’s secretary to the members.
The club’s buildings had suffered extensive bomb damage during the Second World War and the board did not have sufficient funds to pay for the repairs.
Meanwhi le, there is a growing possibility that Andy Murray, who reached the third round of the Stella Artois this year, will start working on a physical programme with Frank Dick, the former head of British athletics. Dick, who has previously helped Boris Becker and Marat Safi n, had a formal meeting with the Murray camp yesterday.
“We did speak informally during the summer but Andy’s schedule didn’t allow for a proper meeting until now,” Murray’s mother, Judy, said. “Frank has worked with top athletes as well as Becker, so his input will be invaluable. In the short term we will be hoping to put into place an aerobic-based training plan for Andy, which would include running and cycling.”
Murray, who made a guest appearance on a cult football television show last weekend, will train at the British team’s holding camp in France before the Davis Cup tie against Switzerland, who include Roger Federer, the world No 1 and US Open champion, in Geneva next week. The 18year-old is expected to contest his fi rst singles rubber in the competition during the World Group play-off tie, which is to be played on an indoor clay court.