Rescind the OSLTC job offer

I used to be coached by both Ben and Dave as a junior, having moved from Woodstock tennis club to Oxford Sports, specifically because of the recommendation from Ben. Having left the club to go to university, and since graduating and moving back to Oxfordshire I was considering rejoining the club, but having since learned of the toxic environment and the lack of respect shown to both Ben and Dave, I have decided to join another club. I am shocked at the treatment they have received over the past few weeks, especially when they have both committed many years to the club and developed such a successful junior programme. I hope that the club recognises their effort, and owns up to the problematic treatment of both Ben and Dave, at the very least.

Ben and Dave have coached my son for 7 years now and he has kept up with his tennis, unlike many other sports which have gone by the wayside. I ascribe much of his enduring enthusiasm for the sport to Ben and Dave’s encouragement and patience. As his private coach, Ben has always been a positive mentor. I have no clue about the decision concerning Head Coach, but if the committee lose these two loyal and experienced coaches, then they can hardly question why members doubt their overall approach to the management of the club.

I have grown up at Oxford Sports and consider it a second home. I joined at a young age after struggling to find a club which I enjoyed to play at and connected with. This was not the case with Oxford Sports, and the reason was Ben & Dave. They not only have great qualifications, coaching experience, and connections, but they also have the unique ability to inspire their students. This is no common trait. Under their coaching I have had the opportunity to play tennis at a university, national and international level. During this process I had to collaborate with many other coaches and clubs, both in the UK and internationally, and I can confidently say that you will not find coaches with same the expertise, calibre to encourage, and passion to invest in their students. They have been successful in networking and connecting with local schools and clubs, providing great benefits and opportunities to Oxford Sports. Also, they are highly respected by the students, parents and wider tennis community. Clearly they are an asset to the club as much as a part of the club. Knowing this to be true, I struggle to understand the decision that was made. Not appointing them to the position of Head Coach has left me, and I am sure many others, baffled and unsure about the clubs’ future. I believe this decision could be detrimental to the club, and thus requires urgent reconsideration.

Coaching and lessons with Dave and Ben over the years has helped my tennis loads. I’ve done camps and have been inspired to do the tennis leadership, level 1 and level 2 tennis qualifications because of Dave. He has gone above and beyond to help me improve. Can’t understand why Dave and Ben wouldn’t have been offered the opportunity of Head Coaches given their loyalty, commitment and qualifications to both the club and the players over many many years.

I support the comments that other's have already written. I wanted to add that I've been impressed with their skills as role models and mentors - so important for young people. My son has enjoyed tennis lessons for many years at Oxford Sports, and decided to volunteer as part of the DofE scheme. Ben and Dave have always supported him with this (through to gold), and continued to do so as he qualified as an LTA Level 1 assistant coach, and more recently, in achieving Level 2. I'm sure he wouldn't have done all of these things without being part of a nurturing and supportive club, and having the informal mentoring that Ben and Dave freely and generously offered.

Dave has coached, motivated my 3 boys over the past 10 years at least. He is a fantastic coach and a fantastic person. To many they are Oxford Sports Tennis Club. This decision seems bizarre and to lose either Dave or Ben would be a massive loss to tennis at the club.

Ben and Dave have coached my boys for about 13 years and I couldn't be happier with their professionalism and attitude towards the game. It's a shame if they've not been given the opportunity to prove their capabilities as head coaches.

Ben and Dave have coached and supported me for the last 10 years and taught me all the tennis I know. I will help them with as much as I can.

Ben is possibly going me of the best coaches I have come across in my 15 years of teaching professional sport. How this happened the first place is beyond. Correct this please! You WILL not regret it

On the face of it this decision seems bonkers, and the many comments below, with which I agree, must surely cause the committee to pause for thought. Maybe we just need to hear the other side of the argument. Or maybe a mistake has been made. But it’s sad to see a successful local club digging itself a hole for itself like this. Certainly Ben and Dave have done right by my family and many friends over many years now, and have our support if they can be given the chance.

Ben and Dave are, for so many members, Oxford Sports Tennis Club. Both have a wealth of coaching experience and deep connections with a majority of both the adult and especially junior membership. They also understand what this club means to its members and the local community, something that no new coach (no matter how brilliant they may be) could possibly appreciate. Ignoring these factors and choosing not appoint them for the position of head coach, is a dangerous move and risks jeopardising so much of what makes Oxford Sports the unique and wonderful club that it is. As someone who has grown up at the club, learnt to play there, learnt to coach there, recently served on the committee and, crucially, as someone who like Ben and Dave also has a passion for Oxford Sports, I struggle to understand the logic behind this decision. Put simply, I do not believe that this decision is in the best interests of the membership and I feel that serious consideration needs to be given as to whether or not this is really the right move for the club and its members. I'm sure that current members would also like to know exactly how the committee chose the incoming head coach and the specific reasons as to why the successful candidate was chosen over Ben and Dave, especially since open and honest process is one of the key aims of the new committee. The newly appointed head coach may indeed be an excellent choice on paper and, if the committee decides to proceed with their decision, I very much hope that he is the right choice. However, I strongly believe that not going with two exceptional, proven and popular candidates in Ben and Dave who truly understand what Oxford Sports is and strives to be, is (as this petition shows) a decision that needs to be reconsidered.

My five boys have all undergone performance coaching at Sports for the last 20 years. Any guesses why we have been at Oxford Sports for so long? The children have always built a tremendous rapport with the coaches. This is why we are happy to do a 60mile round trip!

Ben and Dave have been the main stay of the junior coaching for many years and are absolutely brilliant. We should show our appreciation by giving them a chance to show how great they would be at running the program rather than bringing an outsider in.

Both of my children have benefited from being coached by Ben and Dave and want this to continue. The committee knows my feelings on this matter. As already said, I hope they do all in their power to keep Ben and Dave at the club.

Dave and Ben are great coaches and the reason why my son Rohan trains at Oxford Sports. Please reconsider. Siva

Ben and Dave are the reason my son joined oxford sports

Let’s give Dave and Ben a go and see if that works out. Thanks. M

I think Dave and Ben are the best coaches

I trust Ben and Dave will do well as the head coach.

I support either Ben or Dave for this post.