Wright way ahead

Wright's tennis-watching days are set to increase

BBC tennis correspondent Iain Carter looks at the reasons behind Ian Wright's new role in British tennis.

Former Arsenal and England footballer, Ian Wright, is switching sports to take up a vital role in trying to boost Britain's bid to recruit more youngsters to tennis.

Wright has been signed up by the Lawn Tennis Association bosses, who want him to attract children from inner cities to take up the sport.

The announcement was made during a fact-finding mission to Paris this week.

Wright must convince youngsters it is cool to play tennis

  Iain Carter

The purpose of the visit was to show off the facilities enjoyed by the French Tennis Federation at Roland Garros, which will provide the blueprint for the LTA's planned National Tennis Centre.

A site at Roehampton near Wimbledon has been identified and if planning permission is granted swiftly, building work should be completed in 2005.

The £30m centre would boast six indoor courts as well as facilities covering the full range of outdoor surfaces.

A state of the art gym and medical and sports science centres are also planned. They would be used by the country's leading players and top juniors.

Ian Wright in his England days

Without question the centre will be of huge benefit to British tennis, but the biggest need is still for more youngsters to take up the game.

That is why Wright's role is important. He appeals to a large cross-section of youngsters and must convince them that it is "cool" to play tennis.

Wright's role will be closely linked to the LTA's scheme to set up clubs on park courts, initially in six major British cities.

This is where the governing body has to succeed if it is to fulfil it's stated aim of changing the face of British tennis.

Only then will we have the possibility of producing promising youngsters in sufficient numbers to stand the chance of sustained success on the international stage.

Without them there would be little point in building the planned National Centre.