ITF Presidential Candidate Sets Out Promises

(ATR) Dave Miley says the tennis governing body’s image is at "one of its lowest points in ITF history", as he publishes a manifesto aimed at revamping the game and increasing revenues.

The former ITF director of development, nominated by Tennis Ireland, laid out his vision for the federation at a media briefing in London on the sidelines of the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Miley is one of four ITF presidential candidates. David Haggerty is running for a second term, with Ivo Kaderka of the Czech Republic and India’s Anil Khanna are also bidding to unseat the incumbent president.

Miley’s 28-page manifesto ‘Together for Tennis – ITF Strong’ to become the tennis federation’s new president covers professional tennis, grassroots development, commercial growth and governance.

Speaking to reporters in London, Miley said he wanted to restructure the ITF World Tennis Tour to be more user-friendly and provide a pathway for all talented performance players.

Miley plans to respect the current Davis Cup and Fed Cup formats and contract with Kosmos "while working in the longer-term to agree a format for these competitions that better respects their traditions and drives greater income".

Under a seven-pillar manifesto, Miley is also aiming to forge a closer relationship with the Grand Slams with increased financial support for the global game.

He is pledging to increase the ITF’s commercial presence globally and develop new competitions, including a combined men’s and women’s world championships.

A review of the ITF’s structure costs of administration and improving player relations by establishing an ITF ‘Player Commission’ are among other elements of his agenda for change.

"Tennis is a great sport, but it is not growing as it should, especially in the more developed and traditional markets where it is facing significant challenges," he said.

"The image of the ITF with important constituents and in the eyes of players and coaches on the junior and professional tour is at one of its lowest points in ITF history, while the ITF World Tennis Tour has been a costly disaster.

"Against this backdrop, it is even more important that tennis becomes less fragmented and that all in the game work together, recognising that a healthy sport will benefit everyone."

Miley said the ITF needs "big picture vision and leadership", saying that his experience in the ITF, including 17 years on the board, made him "best qualified to spearhead a new direction and help create a new order for world tennis".

"When I look at other mainstream sports, I see many growing quickly while tennis remains relatively static. This is not acceptable for a great sport like ours," he added.

In a combined effort, Miley said tennis’s stakeholders could double the size of the sport’s global market to $45 billion.

"It can be done, the result being the ITF generating at least $250 million of annual revenues and increasing dramatically the funds given back to the shareholders – the national associations – and to global tennis development," he added.

Commenting on his leadership style, Miley promised to collaborate widely. "I intend to lead a movement of like-minded people, consisting of leaders within the national associations and the ITF Board, to positively change the ITF and the current fragmented international tennis order."

The ITF presidential elections are scheduled to take place at the federation’s AGM in Lisbon on Sept. 27.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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