Tennis: Report recommends pay hikes for staffers

One of the men appointed to look into the structure of Tennis New Zealand (TNZ) has advocated massive salary increases for its staff at a time when some junior players are having their funding slashed.

A report by Tennis Wanganui chairman John Williams suggests 50-70 per cent pay increases for TNZ's nine staff, a Wellington daily newspaper reported today.

Tennis New Zealand last week appointed Williams as association representative on the new Maiden Committee, which has been charged with identifying the future governance structure of the sport.

In a document titled "Best practice governance and strategic planning for Tennis in New Zealand", Williams said the national body's wage bill should increase from an average of $400,000 a year to $625,000.

Williams said TNZ chief executive Don Turner's salary should rise to $125,000-$150,000, that a marketing manager should be employed at a rate of $110,000-$135,000 and that four new division managers should get $90,000-$125,000 each.

Written for a TNZ sub-committee before TNZ's annual meeting in July, the document said the figures were "discussed and agreed during meetings with the major association representatives".

Though the $625,000 figure was a considerable increase above the current $400,000 salary costs, Williams felt it was vital that funding be obtained "to ensure world-class professional executives are appointed".

Williams suggested the increases in salary be funded through sponsorship, donations, gaming trusts and Sparc.

Without the professionals, tennis in New Zealand would continue to struggle Williams said.

Turner played down Williams' report.

"He perhaps took a little liberty in saying everybody agreed because when it came to the annual meeting it became clear everybody had not agreed on everything," Turner said.

Turner admitted the suggested salary bands would be evaluated and considered by the Maiden Committee which is currently looking into the structure of New Zealand tennis.

New Zealand tennis great Onny Parun said the figures in Williams' report were a disgrace.

"When our most promising player, Marina Erakovic, is having her funding cut these guys are lining their pockets. I find it staggering. They are being paid these vast levels of money...to the detriment of junior development."

Players affected by the cuts include Erakovic, the country's top woman, whose funding has been cut from $20,000 to $15,000.

But Turner defended the drop in some players' funding. "One-to-one there was a reduction in tier one payouts because it was filled and the tier ones were getting more than TNZ could afford."

- nzpa