MARK PETCHEY, the former coach of Andy Murray, believes that both the LTA and the Scottish LTA (SLTA) have not satisfactorily converted Andy Murray's success into greater participation levels.

The question of whether the former US Open and Wimbledon champion's success is being capitalised on, or not, is perhaps the most frequently posed query in British sport. Petchey has been hugely critical of the LTA in the past and he remains resolute in his belief that the sport's governing body is not targeting the right areas to ensure that Murray's success leaves a legacy.

He said: "I think the LTA's role and its mission statement should always have been to grow the game through participation - that is where their money should have been targeted.

"There's been way too much money pumped into average players when they should have put a lot more money into building performance centres in Scotland and around Britain rather than what they have done.

"I think there is a drive to do that now but obviously Andy's success is huge in Scotland so yes, it would be very disappointing if the game here hasn't grown exponentially because of systems not being in place to make that happen."

Petchey was a top-hundred player himself and reached the third round of Wimbledon but he is perhaps best-known for coaching Murray during the period in which the Scot broke into the world's top 50 a decade ago. So, what should be done to create more Andy Murrays?

"You're not necessarily going to create another Andy Murray because he's a unique talent but what you can do is get a phenomenal amount of good kids coming through because the ability is there," he added. "My attitude is that, if you grow the base as much as you possibly can, the rest will take care of itself.

"I'd have more days which just give kids the chance to play tennis because that's what it's all about. It's about giving kids whose parents didn't play tennis the chance to play, utilising the space you have, which might not always be easy to play tennis in, and creating a day where kids think, 'actually, this is a very cool sport - I love it so how do I go from the playground to the next stage?' There needs to be a programme which makes that affordable for parents because that's how you'll create players."

Murray is not the only success story to have come out of Scotland in recent years; the late Elena Baltacha, Colin Fleming, Jamie Baker and Jamie Murray make up what is unarguably a golden generation for this country.

The elder Murray brother has been particularly outspoken in his criticisms of the SLTA and its failure to build upon his younger sibling's success - he holds in particular disdain the lack of indoor courts for aspiring Scottish tennis players to play on; not a single indoor court has been built in Scotland since Andy exploded onto the scene in 2005.

Petchey holds a similar view that facilities - and the ability to play tennis all year round - are vital and he maintains his belief that more kids picking up tennis rackets will translate into more professional players.

That both the LTA and the SLTA have adopted a strategy of targeting their money at fewer young players is, in Petchey's opinion, a flawed tactic.

"I don't believe in Talent ID," he insisted. "You shouldn't be picking specific players. There are some kids who, at a young age, might be better than others but how do I know what's inside?

"I can see how well they hit a ball but I don't know if they're willing to do what Andy was willing to sacrifice or what I was willing to sacrifice to get out there and play the game professionally. The only thing that Talent ID does is turn kids off the game. You end up turning kids away because there just isn't the money to fund everyone."

There is, of course, no magic solution which will guarantee another Scottish grand slam champion. But Petchey has a fair degree of certainty when advising what he believes that Scotland should do to continue this proud tennis tradition that has been created over the last decade-or-so.

"If it's to Scotland's benefit to work less closely with the LTA then they should do that," he reasoned. "The SLTA know their country better than anyone and if going their own way is going to create more success then yes, they should do it themselves.

"Judy Murray has a track record which is second to none, Leon Smith is a fantastic coach - if they are given the leeway to do what they feel is necessary to make tennis successful in this country then I believe that they will produce players.

"I don't think it would be a bad thing to let people with proven track records like Judy and Leon do what they think needs to be done in Scotland. Give them a free rein and let them get on with it."