By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Sydney

Greg Rusedski has let off a verbal bomb under Britain's Olympic challenge with a blistering and unprovoked attack on tennis chiefs.

The British number two called for a massive shake-up at the LTA, the sport's governing body in Britain, and even suggested that the cash mountain amassed by Wimbledon should go to other athletes rather than undeserving tennis players.

And while he stopped just short of calling for LTA chief executive John Crowther to quit he insisted that blood-letting at the top was the only way forward.

It was an attack which angered and embarrassed British team officials and even saw manager Roger Taylor make a series of long distance phone calls in a bid to limit the fall-out.

As preparation for Britain's Olympic challenge it could not have been more disruptive, especially as some of Rusedski's comments could be taken as a slight on team-mates such as unheralded doubles partners Barry Cowan and Kyle Spencer.

"The money other athletes have is nothing compared to the money our Federation has at the LTA," said Rusedski.

"I'm thinking if they're getting to the Olympics and achieving things why can't we do the same in tennis with all the finance.

"It doesn't make sense. You'd rather almost see the finance going to the athletes who are doing the stuff."

Rusedski called for the millions raised by Wimbledon each year to be pumped into searching for players at the grass roots of the game.

And he suggested the LTA should fork out the huge cash it would take to secure the services of top coaches such as Bob Brett, former mentor of Boris Becker and John Lloyd among others, and his own former coach Sven Groeneveld.

"With the finance we have we could go out and search more in the minorities and for people in the council estates," said Rusedski.

"We could have more higher-rated coaches like Bob Brett and Sven Groeneveld and put them in the Federation and get things done and put people in the Olympics with chances because the future is not looking so wonderful at the moment.

"I think there's a lot more change needs to be done. At the moment there's not enough."

Rusedski's outburst, which came after he had practised in Olympic Park on Tuesday for his first round match with Frenchman Arnaud Clement on Wednesday, then turned to the men at the top of the LTA who were heavily criticised after Britain's humiliating Davis Cup defeat against Ecuador in July.

That embarrassment saw Director of Tennis Richard Lewis sacked and not replaced, though full responsibility for the way forward for British tennis has since been handed to Performance Director, Frenchman Patrice Hagelauer.

"I don't understand how you can get rid of Richard and then all of a sudden you still have John in there when Richard was basically telling John what to do," said Rusedski.

"It needs to be fixed sooner rather than later."

British team manager Roger Taylor was clearly stunned by the outburst and insisted on taking counsel before reacting.

"It's unfortunate that Greg has made these comments here at the Olympic Games," he later said. "Particularly at a time when the LTA are making many positive changes."

Rusedski, meanwhile, starts his Olympic challenge on Wednesday along with Tim Henman, who faces Slovakian Karol Kucera.

John Lloyd, part of the coaching team when David LLoyd was Britain's Davis Cup coach, told the BBC: "A lot of Greg's points were very valid.

"Richard resigned but chief executive John Crowther is still there, it's a very good point.

"We have to get top men to coach the training squads and at grass roots level.

"Let's face it after the worst result in Davis Cup history against Ecuador only one person resigned - it's not enough.

"You have to look at the money Wimbledon gives to the LTA - Morocco, Denmark and others don't get a fraction of that but they are ranked above us. It's unbelievable.

"I don't think it will have much impact on the Olympics preparation although manager Roger Taylor is clearly shocked.

"Greg is his own man and this has been welling up inside him for some time. He has decided to get it off his chest in front of the biggest audience he could and he thinks this is obviously the right time to do it."

Within hours of the press conference, in which Rusedski heavily criticised the LTA, he issued a statement saying he had "made a mistake" in raising the issue during the Olympic Games.

The British number two said: "I would like start off by saying I made a mistake. I should never have brought up such a discussion during this time.

"The Olympics are a wonderful event and occasion. During this time myself and all of the other tennis players in the GB team need to concentrate and focus for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I apologise to anyone of my team-mates who I might have distracted or brought unnecessary attention to.

"When I get back home I would like to sit down with John Crowther, chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, and discuss the future of British tennis.

"I do not believe anyone should be fired but there is much we can do to make a positive change and difference.

"Please can we leave the matter until after the Olympics are over for the sake of all the British athletes."