Hagelauer's exit sparks speculation over Felgate

Tim Henman's former coach, David Felgate, whose name is on a list of possible successors to Patrice Hagelauer as the Lawn Tennis Association's director of performance, made the point yesterday that the job description is the key to filling the vacancy. "Will the LTA want a grass-roots administrator, like a football club secretary, who is responsible for everything from the tickets to the plumbing, or a manager of élite players, like Sir Alex Ferguson, who would want to do his own thing?" Felgate asked.

The answer may be found in the LTA's intention to form a bond between the next director of performance and a director of tennis operations, a new post with responsibility for grass-roots development.

Hagelauer confirmed yesterday that he was leaving the LTA after nearly four years to return to a former role, coaching France's Davis Cup team. Guy Forget, France's captain, made the approach before the final in Paris earlier this month, in which France's reign was ended by Russia.

Asked if he thought British tennis was a lost cause, Hagelauer said: "I don't understand how people can say that. I don't have a feeling at all that this is a sinking ship. So much has been done. We have put the foundations in place, but it will take time. In France it took 15 years to change the club culture."

Hagelauer frequently voiced frustration with the club structure in Britain – "if they don't do more for the juniors you will end up with clubs for pensioners" – and was dismayed by the "criticism culture" in British sport.

David Lloyd, the former Davis Cup captain, and an arch critic of the LTA, is bound to be mentioned in dispatches concerning Hagelauer's successor. His name cropped up yesterday after John Crowther, the LTA's chief executive, said the search for a replacement would be extensive. "We have got names of potential candidates in mind," Crowther said, "but I am not going to discuss that today. It's far too early."

Asked how the LTA would react to a candidate who did not share Hagelauer's view of how things should be done, Crowther said: "It would be difficult to find someone who would argue with Patrice's fundamental scheme, but obviously someone else will bring their own personality."

Roger Taylor, the Davis Cup captain, said he was "shocked and surprised" by Hagelauer's resignation. Asked if he would consider taking the job, Taylor said: "Obviously I'm very interested in British tennis, but my strength is more on the performance side with senior players from their mid-teens."

Felgate, currently working in the Cleveland, Ohio, office of Mark McCormack's International Management Group, coached Henman for eight and a half years. Prior to that he was the LTA's manager of men's national training.

Among overseas names possibly in the frame are Australia's Bob Brett, a former coach of Boris Becker, and Brad Gilbert, Andre Agassi's former coach.