The Queen's Club, an exclusive private members' institution in west London, is facing significant backlash after its Lawn Tennis Committee dismissed two highly regarded tennis coaches, Dr. Floyd Williams, believed to be 61, and Andrej Jankov, 57. The coaches, who together served the club for 36 years and have professional playing and coaching experience, were informed last month that their coaching agreements would be terminated.
This decision has ignited a strong protest among the club's 4,500 members, which include aristocrats, celebrities like actor Hugh Grant, and politicians such as Rupert Lowe MP. A petition has been launched to reinstate the coaches, with members claiming the dismissals were presented as voluntary departures but were, in fact, forced terminations. They are demanding an independent review of the decision-making process and communication surrounding the sackings.
Email correspondence obtained by the Daily Mail reveals members expressing disbelief and making accusations of racism and ageism against the club's management. One member reportedly wrote that members, "astute and powerful enough through our pockets to decide who we wish to play, and be coached by," are questioning the rationale behind the dismissals.
Founded in 1886, The Queen's Club is renowned for hosting the grass-court Wimbledon warm-up tournament, currently known as the HSBC Championships. Beyond its sporting significance, it serves as a social hub for its elite membership, who pay substantial fees, including a £15,000 joining fee and a £2,000 annual subscription, with a 15-year waiting list closed in 2019.
According to meeting minutes from May 16, the Head of Lawn Tennis, Lee Childs, began the annual coaching review, with the committee expressing support for his approach to "enhance the service of coaching provided to Members." However, termination letters were sent to Williams and Jankov on June 23, initially with eight weeks' notice, later reduced to four weeks, making July 21 their final day. The decision was communicated to members on June 30.
While the club does not directly employ coaches, it licenses approximately a dozen coaches as self-employed subcontractors who pay £650 per month for facility use. The termination of this agreement with Williams and Jankov, who reportedly worked at the club up to five days a week, is viewed by many as equivalent to dismissal.
Clients of the coaches have defended their abilities, with one competitive player stating that Williams and Jankov significantly improved her game. Another member praised Jankov's "exceptional diligence and professionalism," noting his availability and willingness to coach family members, suggesting his professionalism was not always matched by other coaches at the club. A recurring complaint from members has been the perceived lack of consultation in the decision.
Despite the member outcry, club chairman Alan Giddens stated in an email on July 17 that "the majority of the Board were nevertheless satisfied that the correct decision had been made," though acknowledging "lessons to be learnt with regard to the communication with members." Club CEO Ross Niland indicated that the number of coaches is limited and contract issuances are based on Childs' assessment of the "range and quality of the various coaches available."
Concerns about discrimination have surfaced, with one member suggesting that the terminations might be due to "unspeakable reasons" and that Floyd, a Black coach, and Andrej, an Eastern European coach, "strongly feel they are being singled out due to their racial profile." The member further noted that the coaching pool does not reflect London's racial diversity and that losing these coaches would make it less representative. The potential for "catastrophic consequences" from allegations of racial discrimination, including sponsor loss, was also highlighted.
Another member suggested that the action "appears to have an element of ageism" in the absence of evidence for a qualitative assessment process.
While accusations of racism and ageism were reportedly rebutted in private correspondence, The Queen's Club declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail. The situation raises the possibility that the coaches, despite being classified as self-employed, could be legally considered employees, similar to a 2021 UK Supreme Court ruling concerning Uber drivers, potentially entitling them to compensation for unfair dismissal.