COLIN Fleming is stepping down next week from his role as Scotland’s national tennis coach, but his expertise is to be retained by Tennis Scotland as a consultant on performance, writes Stewart Fisher. The 34-year-old, who won eight ATP doubles titles during his playing career, has spent 20 months in this position but is keen on a more flexible working arrangement which allows him to explore other avenues in the sport as well as spending further time with his young family.

Although he will formally takes a step back on October 5, the governing body are keen to keep his knowhow on board when it comes to recruiting a top level coach to head up their new national tennis academy which - with funding from the LTA - will be based at the University of Stirling courts from September 2019. One of just two bespoke LTA academies across the UK, along with one in Loughborough, interviews for key positions will take place in the next few weeks.