Gilbert and Murray 'stopped getting on'

Published on Monday 19 November 2007 00:37

AMERICAN coach Brad Gilbert is to continue working for the British Lawn Tennis Association on a shortened contract following his split with Andy Murray.

Gilbert signed a three-year contract with the LTA in 2006, with his main role to work with Murray, Britain's top player and currently No 11 in the world. However, after the pair parted company last week, the LTA has renegotiated its arrangement with Gilbert.

"We have reduced his contract by knocking eight months off it, we have reduced the number of weeks [a year] down to 20 from 40 because he is not travelling with Andy," LTA chief executive Roger Draper told the BBC.

"We have set him a new challenge of getting Alex Bogdanovic [ranked 161] into the top 100 to fulfil his potential and he will spend 15 or 16 weeks working with Alex, both here and at tournaments around the world. We also want him to work on 'upskilling' our coaches and inspiring the next generation to follow in Andy's footsteps."

Draper said that there would not be any financial compensation for Gilbert, who he said was happy instead to be given free time to dedicate to coaching elsewhere or doing media work.

"We have reduced the financial burden," said Draper. "There is no compensation - absolutely. The compensation we have given him is freeing up his time.

"I think it is win-win for all concerned. He brings a lot of knowledge to British tennis and we want to continue that."

Draper said the split between Gilbert and Murray had been based on off-court issues. "I think they just stopped getting on," said Draper.

"Andy is 20 and Brad is 46. It was two guys who stopped enjoying each other's company on the tour."

"From a tennis point of view both guys are world class. I don't think it was anything to do with the tennis, it was something off the court."