Members of the exclusive Queen's Club in west London are demanding answers from the club's board regarding the dismissals of two long-serving coaches, Dr. Floyd Williams and Andrej Jankov. Critics contend that the club's leadership has mishandled the situation, leading to a significant protest from its affluent membership.
Dr. Williams, a former Wimbledon qualifier, and Jankov, who has been at Queen's since 2002, were reportedly dismissed with a reduced notice period. Members allege that the club's published minutes show no discussion or approval of these dismissals, despite the club's own procedures requiring such a process. The announcement to members framed the departures as voluntary, a characterization disputed by those seeking accountability.
In response, a group of members has penned a letter to the board, outlining three key demands: suspending the termination date, commissioning an independent review of the decision-making process, and providing an honest account of the events. They have warned of further action, including calling an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), if the board does not respond positively by July 20.
Queen's Club, which boasts a membership including members of the Royal Family and billionaires, charges a £15,000 joining fee and £2,000 in annual subscriptions. The club, which recently hosted a WTA championship where Emma Raducanu competed, has declined to comment on the matter. However, the board reportedly maintains that "due process" was followed.