Kelvin Inge has been axed as Hong Kong Davis Cup captain.
The Hong Kong Tennis Association's international match committee recommended last week that Inge be replaced with immediate effect.
'Yes, they recommended that a new manager and a new captain be appointed. The decision was taken last week,' confirmed HKTA president Dr Philip Kwok yesterday.
Derek Ling will take over as captain while Christopher Lai, a member on the international match committee, has been named manager.
There was speculation that the move - which comes just five weeks before Hong Kong's Asia-Oceania Zone Group Two relegation battle against Kazakhstan - came about as a result of Inge's failed bid for the post of HKTA presidency last December.
An unhappy Inge refused to speculate on whether the reason for his sacking was linked to his decision to buck the trend and run against the long-serving Kwok. 'All I can say is that there was some discussion to replace me as captain when I made known my intentions of running for the presidency.