De Jager resigned from his position as captain of the men’s national team, citing differences of opinion with the TSA board.
“There is no question that when the captain of your team that represents the country in international competition resigns, it is a blow,” said Crookes on Monday at a media conference held in Johannesburg. “However, John-Laffnie’s commitment to South Africa and the team is unquestioned and will never be doubted by TSA.
“We hope he will always be involved in our structures and he will be a most welcome guest at all our events, and will be treated with the respect and dignity he deserves.
“Should he have a change of heart and wish to reapply for the Davis Cup job, he would be most welcome to do so.”
De Jager held the post for nine years, and the TSA announced Fed Cup captain Earl Grainger will take up the position for the remainder of the year. “It makes sense that the Davis and Fed Cup positions need to run concurrently,” added Crookes.
He said De Jager will be invited to attend a board meeting, where they can thrash out their differences behind closed doors, but he did respond to some of the allegations made by the former captain in an open letter to the media.
“I have lost my faith in the TSA leadership,” De Jager wrote. “In the past year they have betrayed my belief in them repeatedly. We have entered a second year without a CEO/General Manager, and it is clear to me that the current leadership doesn’t have the capacity or the will to run TSA successfully. Their inability to communicate, make decisions and implement them is hurting the game at every level.”
He also accused them of “taking over the Davis Cup selection process” and making decisions without consulting him, sabotaging the initial Global Professional Tennis Coaches Association Level C Coaches course held in November last year, and leaving the “debacle surrounding the last Davis Cup tie” unresolved.
Crookes opened his response by emphasising that “sport is about the people who play the game and not about the people who run the game”.
“For the TSA Board, tennis is about all the people who play the sport – from professional, to club player to wheelchair players.”
Crookes denied the board was taking over the Davis Cup selection process. “We have never not ratified and sanctioned any team John-Laffnie has tabled. It was also always his decision who played which rubber in the tie, not the board’s.
“As far as the Irene tie with Lithuania was concerned, it was stated in John-Laffnie’s contract, he was responsible for discipline in the squad.
