Place apologizes

FRIDAY, JUNE 3: Bermuda’s withdrawal from the Davis Cup stemmed from a lack of funding and had nothing to do with poor preparation.

This according to Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) president Coleridge Place who moved to set the record straight during a special meeting with national coach Steven Bean and Davis Cup players yesterday.

Place had come under fire for comments he allegedly made concerning his decision to pull the plug on Bermuda’s involvement in the Davis Cup this year.

But during yesterday’s meeting, held at BLTA headquarters, he apologized to those present before giving reasons for the decision not to enter a men’s team in the Davis Cup this year, which had more to do with a lack of funding more than anything else.

Earlier this week a group of disgruntled BLTA members met at an undisclosed venue to discuss Place’s scathing criticism. And according to one member present at the meeting the group was prepared to go as far as calling for the BLTA’s chief’s resignation if he did not agree to “retract” statements he made concerning Bermuda’s withdrawal from the Davis Cup.

But when asked was he issued an ultimatum during yesterday’s meeting, Place replied: “I haven’t heard nothing like that.

“I haven’t ruffled any feathers and my board is alright.”

The decision to withdraw from this year’s Davis Cup has denied Bermuda the opportunity to regain their Americas Group III status.

It is the first time the island will not be represented in the annual knockout competition in several years.

Last year saw the island relegated to the Americas Group IV.

Bermuda was due to face the likes of Trinidad, Panama and the US Virgin Islands in Bolivia later this month.