Lloyd to help LTA find future talent

The former Davis Cup captain, David Lloyd, is to lend a helping hand to the Lawn Tennis Association in their attempt to unearth future British talent.

The 58-year-old Lloyd, who has been one of the LTA's fiercest critics, applied unsuccessfully for the post of chief executive and also threw his hat into the ring for vacant performance director role. Now Lloyd, who sold his branded leisure club businesses for more than £300m, is to join forces with new LTA chief executive, Roger Draper, in an effort to nurture potential top-100 British players.

The LTA will tomorrow unveil a joint partnership in which they will contribute £500,000 to the David Lloyd Academy over the next three years. Lloyd said: "It's great for me to be involved in British tennis and in partnership with the LTA in this way. I see no reason why the David Lloyd Tennis Academy cannot produce world-class tennis players.

"Our team of kids will have the best advice available and, as long as they have that inner desire, I am confident we will start to get results in three to four years' time."

Draper, who has started a major overhaul of the LTA organisation, said: "You can expect to see more partnerships of this type. I believe David Lloyd has much to offer British tennis."