Long-time coach Bob Brett has resigned his position as the director of player development at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
The Australian took on the position in June 2014, but was said to have found himself spending most of his time doing departmental work instead of being on court. The LTA had planned to split the position in two, leaving Brett to do more coaching. According to the Telegraph this spring, the LTA confirmed it “would begin employing a performance director to fulfill part of the role undertaken by Brett.”
However, Brett has now decided to leave the organization. He has coached Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Andrei Medvedev and Marin Cilic.
“I wish them all the very best in the future. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the LTA Board for the opportunity they have given to me during this period,” Brett said in a statement.
LTA chief executive Michael Downey, who became the CEO last September, said he will take over for an interim period until he finds a new performance director.
Downey is the former CEO of Tennis Canada, where Brett was a consultant. Downey said, “Many of his recommendations aimed at raising the bar for excellence have now been implemented. We have seen the power of his five-day camps for the nation's best juniors, and his mentoring of some of Britain's best young coaching talent where they benefited from his 'in the trenches' understanding of what it takes to succeed on the global stage. Despite a relatively short tenure at the LTA, Bob has made a difference in improving our nation's chances for greater success.”
Brett also has a tennis academy in San Remo, Italy.