AS we come to terms with the sad news of Andy Murray’s imminent retirement, there has been much speculation about what Scotland’s most accomplished – and cherished – sporting son might do next.

As Murray’s tearful announcement highlighted, it won’t be easy for him to leave the life he loves. Clearly, however, the world will be this smart and much-loved sportsman’s oyster, and a dizzying array of sporting, media and business opportunities await.

He should do what makes him happy. But since the Murray we’ve come to know over the last few years has matured into a global statesman who uses his voice to promote equality – not least for women in sport - we can expect him to use his skills, experience and clout to create opportunities for others in the years to come.

It’s too early to speculate on exactly how he may do this, of course, but it’s surely the right time to address another related question doing the rounds over the weekend: how can we thank Andy Murray for the immense pride and joy he has given us?

Surely the most fitting way to honour this equality-minded sportsman would be the creation of a real and lasting legacy to grow and develop tennis in Scotland, allowing as many folk as possible to play and excel at the game. If you do this in the right manner, along the way you will inevitably unearth young talent. And, even if you don’t create champions of Murray’s stature, you at least end up with many more people playing sport, which in an overweight country like Scotland has got to be a good thing.

All this leads only to more questions, of course. Since Murray has been at the top of tennis for more than a decade, why hasn’t it happened already? Why have no new public indoor courts been built in Scotland during his peak, despite many more folk being inspired to take up the game? And why has Scotland, despite punching well above its weight in terms of success (Andy’s doubles champion brother Jamie and Davis Cup coach Leon Smith to name but two) received such little funding from the powers that be to capitalise on the Murray buzz?

Sadly, the authority that runs the sport in the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has failed miserably so far to create any sort of tangible legacy for Murray, either in Scotland or the wider UK.

Meanwhile, it has been left to his mother, Judy, the tennis coach and force of nature that single-handedly created the opportunities for her son and many other young Scots to excel at the game over the years, to fill the void.

Through her many grassroots initiatives, Ms Murray tours the country week in, week out, offering taster sessions and training in as many communities as possible, including many of the most deprived. She wants every child in Scotland, regardless of background, to have the chance to play a sport that still has a reputation for snobbishness.

There’s only so much Ms Murray can do on her own, of course, which led her to conceive the tennis centre near Dunblane, part of a wider sporting and leisure development, Park of Keir, that she views as a fitting legacy for the extraordinary success of both of her sons.

Despite some local opposition and, it must be said, a woeful and frustrating lack of will and ambition in many others, her vision, which currently relies wholly on commercial activity, is finally moving forward, with building work expected to begin soon. Once open, the centre will offer accessible facilities and opportunities - including vital indoor courts - for whole families to develop a love of tennis. It will also train the next generation of coaches and professionals to take the game out to the community and develop opportunities for folk from every background to play, both for fun and competitively.

It’s a plan that deserves public money and one straightforward way to thank Murray for his huge contribution to national life would be for the LTA to provide some funds for the development, which will be run as a charitable trust; I don't doubt that he will be contributing his skills and expertise in various ways, both formally and informally, in the years to come.

The LTA, which has benefitted financially from Murraymania over the years, is investing in a new national academy in conjunction with the University of Stirling, catering for UK-wide rising stars. Developing elite players is important. But grassroots bases such as the Murray centre are also deserving of funding, arguably more so, and it’s time for the LTA to cough up more generously.

All the Murrays have shown time and time again that sheer drive, determination and belief can make things happen, and there are many spheres of Scottish life that could learn lessons from their “can do” approach, whether that be entrepreneurism or arts education.

Right now, however, it’s time for the sporting authorities and politicians who have been falling over themselves to laud Andy Murray to back his legacy with hard cash and action rather than warm words. It’s the least we can do.