Sydney, Oct 27 (Inditop.com) Geoff Pollard’s win in Tennis Australia’s (TA) presidential election has dismayed the country’s no.1 player Lleyton Hewit, who has called for the voting details to be made public.
Pollard defeated Paul McNamee in Monday’s leadership ballot but TA, as per its usual practice, declined to reveal the details of the poll to avert any accusations of foul play.
“I am disappointed with the decision as I felt it was the right time for change with the leadership,” said Hewitt, who was McNamee’s highest profile and most vocal supporter during the campaign.
“As I have stated before, my point of view is not a personal attack on Geoff, but that there are many in the tennis community who believe there is a need for significant change right now and that Paul was the right man for that job.
“As I’m sure others are, I am keen to know the details of the vote and whether Geoff’s casting vote was required. If so then the process of the election is flawed. Hopefully after raising concerns, much more will be done growing grassroot tennis and the actual marketing of the game in this country.
“Tennis Australia, I believe, is now on notice from the tennis community and have to be more accountable to a much wider audience. Tennis must be the winner in the long run,” Hewitt was quoted as saying in The Age.
TA claimed its election was run in accordance with its constitution. Sixteen votes were registered by state and territory delegates. Pollard, whose vote would only count in the event of a deadlock, lodged his at the same time as the other representatives in case it was required.
Later, having secured a 21st and final year at the helm of the governing body, Pollard claimed he wasn’t privy to whether he had saved his own bacon.
“I want to thank the member associations for their support,” Pollard said. “There has been a lot of change in the last four years and a lot of good work done in tennis.
“In what will be my final year as president of Tennis Australia I look forward to progressing the culture of change we have developed and continue to drive more growth and improvement in the sport.
Pollard dismissed the notion of hard feelings against Hewitt for his pro-McNamee stance.
“Lleyton said, rather than being critical of me, it was time for change,” Pollard said.
“I have said, ‘yes, it is time for change’. It should be done properly and planned.”
McNamee is yet to decide if he will mount another challenge for the presidency next year.
rounak