After a break of six years from the Chairmanship of the English Table Tennis Association, I have accepted a request from several major figures in the sport to stand for office again. The reason that I am standing is because I believe that I am the best person to lead the Association. I will build a new, stronger Management team that will take full advantage of the opportunities open to our sport as part of the build up to the 2012 Olympic Games, and make major improvements in many sectors of our sport.

My “New Agenda”, some of which is detailed on the following pages, will create enthusiasm, bring new life into table tennis, and provide our members with the opportunities and services that they desire and require.

I am told by many influential coaches and players that during the last six years the sport has stagnated and declined in some areas. We have had no major international events and also our various National Championships have left much to be desired. There have been very few home international matches and, in fact, it is very rare to see any of our top players competing on home soil. None of this can be helpful to the sport in general.

As your new Chairman, with a dedicated Management Team, I will put this right and do much more. I will devote my time to the job of leading and directing the sport, using all the management skills and table tennis knowledge that I have to motivate the volunteers and staff to produce greater activity and momentum. At the same time I will look for new, younger, talented people and give them the opportunity to grow into the organisation and administration of the sport as officials and coaches to ensure that we are building a great future for table tennis England.

My Management Team will be drawn from the best talents in the Association. Some may be from the current team, some from my former team, some new to the ETTA Management level. I just wish to have the best people who can work together for the good of the sport to deliver the most favourable results for the benefit of all.

I fully appreciate that the wish of the electorate in 2003 was for change; I have learned from that experience and that will be taken into account in the future. Working with Mike Smith especially, we will establish improved routes of communication from members to the officers and departmental heads so the that concerns can be shared, understood, acted on approriately and outcomes brought back to members

This is your Association and with your help and support, we can move table tennis forward. We all need to take responsibility for our sport and make sure that we are all working together towards a successful future!