Investment in future tennis stars

AN ELITE tennis academy, which is headed by a Yorkshire-based coach tasked with helping to find the world's next number one player, is looking for investment.

The Monte Carlo Tennis Academy (MCTA) was founded by Australian millionaire businessman Vincent Hillsdon, who is chairman of Global Procurement Group, which has its UK base in York.

The MCTA, which has provided coaching for Great Britain star Andy Murray, was created to fund and manage an elite touring academy with the Monte Carlo Tennis Club as its home.

The MCTA works with players on the professional tour and actively searches, trains and manages the most promising young tennis players in the world in order to develop them into becoming top 100 professional tennis players.

It offers coaching, nutritional advice, physical conditioning and tactical services at tournaments across the globe.

Its director of coaching is David Sammell, who is based in Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire.

Bradford-based law firm Last Cawthra Feather helped to create the academy and has carried out work for the players and advised on player contracts and sponsorship, including image rights.

Mr Sammell, who hails from South Africa, said the MCTA was looking for further investment to widen and improve its search for new stars of the future; to be able to offer potential players access to the best facilities, equipment, and tournaments in the world; and to develop its marketing plan which involves marketing their players to a wider audience.

Mr Sammell said: “In our profession we are responsible for results. Ultimately we aim to coach grand slam champions but in order to find them and then convert them into champions takes time and money.

“The MCTA is a facilitator for converting inherent talent into real talent and offers the road to professionalism for the supremely gifted. Over time, those with 'top 10' potential will emerge and push for the ultimate number one status but we need private funding to help us achieve this aim.”

Sheffield professional tennis player Anna Fitzpatrick is registered with the MCTA.

She said: “When I started with the Monte Carlo Tennis Academy my game improved very quickly, so much that I made the semi-finals of junior Wimbledon after nine months and in 2007 halved my senior ranking to 350 in the world.

“Players like Andy Murray and Wes Moodie saw the quality of their work and now use the academy which is brilliant for us younger players. It is British and international at the same time which is also good for my development as a player and as a person.”

Investors wishing to invest in the MCTA will benefit from certain tax reliefs as the business plan has been approved by the Government under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

The EIS is an initiative for certain new companies looking to raise capital meaning interested parties will receive 20% income tax relief on the amount invested and in addition any gains are free of Capital Gains Tax.

Global Procurement Group specialises in buying goods and services for small and medium-sized enterprises.