Judy Murray has hit back at “lies” after shelving her plans to build a tennis academy in her home town of Dunblane. The project, which was being led by the Murray Play Foundation, was reportedly set to cost £20million.
The foundation put their decision down to “significant increases in construction, material energy and labour costs, a lengthy and uncertain planning process and protracted discussions with governing bodies”.
And Mrs Murray, whose sons Andy and Jamie have won a whole host of titles throughout their illustrious careers, has lifted the lid on the struggles she faced attempting to get the tennis academy built.
The most hurtful thing is the lies and misrepresentations that have been peddled by those who are opposed to the project,” the 64-year-old explained in an interview with The Sunday Times.
“They are a small but vocal minority. It is quite wrong to suggest that this was all about luxury houses, that I stood to make millions from it and that it was little more than my vanity project.
“I don’t want to get into how much, but the project has been entirely funded by me. The idea that it is some kind of get-rich scheme is absolute nonsense. We set it up as a not-for-profit charitable foundation. It was always about investing in sport and in the community that the boys grew up in.”
The tennis facility, which would have allowed players access to a network of coaches as well as Judy, Andy and Jamie, was set to include Murray memorabilia, a gym, a cafe and a soft play area. The Scottish government had also given planning permission for 19 houses on the site.
And Judy, whose father Roy, 92, and mother Shirley, 90, have lived in Dunblane for decades, added: “My dad was the optician in the town and helped to build the scout hut, while mum ran a toy shop and spent her Saturday mornings coaching at the tennis club for years and years out of goodwill.
“I don’t live in Dunblane but, for them, it’s been hard. They’ve heard mistruths and allegations being levelled which they know are completely untrue. All we were trying to do was to create something wonderful for our local area.
But we have been misrepresented every step of the way by a small number of people. They seem to be against anything that involves change.
Our heart is set on doing something in Scotland. We will take a bit of time and look at what opportunities might be out there to create a fitting legacy.
“The country is incredibly proud of what Andy and Jamie have achieved and it makes me so sad that we have absolutely nothing to show for it.
