THE hiring and firing of football players by big name coaches reaches a crescendo during the summer and January transfer windows. The tennis equivalent occurs during the month of December. And happens in reverse.

Forget about mulled wine and the Christmas party season, for the top boys in tennis the final month of the year is a time to mull over the season just past and make all necessary adjustments for the 12 months to come, which kicks off in earnest with the Australian Open in Melbourne in mid January. And no-one is more fastidious in this regard than Andy Murray. Back in Hogmanay 2011, when the rest of the world was sipping sherry and watching Only an Excuse? he was quietly appointing Ivan Lendl.

If the success of Claudio Ranieri at Leicester is proof that a bit of tinkering every now and then never does too much harm, it was entirely typical of the Scot that he should announce some alterations to his coaching set up to the world via facebook from Dubai yesterday morning. The good news was that Amelie Mauresmo had committed to spending 22 to 24 weeks on the tour with him next year, regardless of the fact she gave birth to her first child Aaron in August. The other piece of information was that he was now looking for a new coach/hitting partner to replace Jonas Bjorkman, the Swedish doubles expert with whom he has maintained a good-humoured relationship in her absence.

Unlike Lendl, her predecessor, Mauresmo was appointed in June 2014 and it was hardly ideal timing for a relationship which has been dramatic from the very first. The baby steps of their relationship were played out in front of the full media glare as the Scot attempted to retain his Wimbledon crown at the same time as suddenly becoming a global spokesman for the gender politics of it all. If the situation was unique then, it only becomes more so when both halves of the arrangement have their progeny in tow.

As unusual as the circumstances may be, the fact Mauresmo is prepared to commit the requisite time will be music to Murray's ears. While a bit of change can provide new ideas, too much can be a bad thing, and the two-time Grand Slam winner's decision removes one element of uncertainty going forward, allowing the pair to resume the productive partnership which helped the Scot pick himself up from his lowest post-surgery ebb. Were it not for the chemistry between player and coach, it is hard to imagine the relationship surviving such logistical difficulties.

In preparation for his bid to claim a maiden Aussie Open title, the Scot is currently undergoing a training block in Dubai, fitting in a few challenge matches with the Singapore Slammers in the International Premier Tennis League for good measure. The venue in the middle-east is deemed more suitable should any emergency transit be required back to Oxshott, Surrey, to tend to his heavily pregnant wife, but he will be back in Blighty by Saturday at any rate, with the rest of Britain's victorious Davis Cup team, to pick up at least one award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

As has been said so frequently during his career, Murray's next appointment is crucial. This will be a key role, one which could quite easily become permanent. But like the best club chairmen out there, he usually tends to get these decisions right. As ever, he will take soundings from the likes of his mother Judy and respected confidante Darren Cahill, and see if the partnership fits before making the decision. There is no hurry, with an appointment not likely until after the birth of Murray's first child in early February.

There is no shortage of respected coaches out there who would crave the chance to work with the No 2 as he aims to build on his most successful year on the tour to date and gather himself for one final onslaught on the game's major titles, including retaining his Olympic title in Rio. Who knows, having met him after one match at Queen's Club earlier this year, perhaps even Jose Mourinho might be on the phone.