LTA look to McEnroe as potential ambassador

The Lawn Tennis Association may look at giving John McEnroe an ambassadorial role in an attempt to increase the popularity of the sport in Great Britain.

McEnroe is one of the most famous faces in the sport and the former Wimbledon champion has already helped the LTA publicise their city clubs initiative. Now a respected television commentator, the American has indicated a desire to live in Britain for a short while and if such a situation existed, LTA chief executive John Crowther admitted it would be worthwhile asking McEnroe if he could spend more time on projects in this country.

"John helped us promote our city clubs and did a fantastic job, so in some ways he already has an ambassadorial role," Crowther said. "Maybe that is something we can build on – it is certainly an idea."

Meanwhile, Crowther admitted he would prefer to appoint a British successor to Patrice Hagelauer, who is leaving his post as performance director to take up a similar position in his native France.

Tim Henman's former coach David Felgate has been mentioned as a candidate but although Crowther would not enter into speculation over Hagelauer's successor, he believes a British appointment would send out the right message. Crowther is hoping to have a new man in place by this year's Wimbledon championships, with interviews due to take place after next month's Davis Cup tie in Australia.

With Greg Rusedski already ruled out and Henman set to join him, Crowther accepts Britain's chances of beating a side containing Lleyton Hewitt are slim.

"The progress we are making in British tennis has been fantastic over the last four years but until we get more people playing the game in this country we are not going to have the production line we would like to have," he said.