Felgate aiming to fill void below Henman and Rusedski

Figuratively measured for a full metal jacket, David Felgate was confirmed as the Lawn Tennis Association's new director of performance yesterday. The 39-year-old from Essex is due to open his campaign as successor to the Frenchman Patrice Hagelauer at the end of the month.

Recommended by Tim Henman, who he coached for eight and a half years, Felgate's merits, according to the British No 1, include "not being scared to piss people off". "Tim's right about that," Felgate said. "It's not something I like to do, but I think in my time with him I wasn't everybody's favourite."

After parting from Henman in April 2001, Felgate coached Xavier Malisse, of Belgium, for a short time before moving to Ohio, to work for Mark McCormack's International Management Group where his job included managing the affairs of the Australian Mark Philippoussis and Brad Gilbert, Andre Agassi's former coach.

While praising the work of Hagelauer, who is leaving to coach France's Davis Cup team after spending four years establishing a scheme designed to streamline the nurturing and development of British talent, Felgate views his own role differently.

"Patrice has done a great job implementing some lasting reforms at grass roots level," Felgate said. "But if that had been my job description it wouldn't have appealed to me. I want to make sure in the next few years that more players go to the next level of being able to compete on the men's and women's tours. Maybe at first it will still be only Tim and Greg [Rusedski] in the majors, but we'll have 10 boys and 10 girls playing qualies [qualifiers]."

Welcoming Felgate back to the LTA, where his coaching skills were honed by Bill Knight, John Crowther, the chief executive, said: "I am very confident that David will promote the highest standards among players and coaches."

Felgate said he was happy with the mandate: "I can do what I want to do and I know I have full support. You won't have me saying I haven't got the backing or the money to do what I need to do. I know some of the moves I'd like to make, but first I want to spend time talking to coaches."

Asked if he subscribed to the view of David Lloyd, the former Davis Cup captain, that a clear-out of the coaches was needed, Felgate said: "Some are good, some are bad, and maybe there are people who need to be in different positions. David Lloyd's line is a great soundbite, but I have to deal with realities like if you get rid of the coaches how do you replace them?"

Rebecca Miskin, who will work in tandem with Felgate as director of tennis operations, started work this week. "Rebecca's role," Crowther said, "is to increase the playing base and so attract more players and David's job will be to make those players better. David and Rebecca are both young, ambitious and passionate about improving the tennis fortunes of Great Britain."