Federer and Godsick Leave IMG

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Federer and Godsick Leave IMG

By Blair Henley

Photo Credit: Imago

(June 5, 2012) -- Sports agency giant IMG took a significant hit last week when Tony Godsick, high-powered tennis agent and husband to U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez, left the company along with his biggest client, Roger Federer.

While Federer's contract with the agency had simply expired, Godsick is leaving IMG after 19 years of service in which he became one the most well-known tennis agents in the industry. Many are speculating that he will soon announce plans to join either CAA Sports, which employs many former IMG executives and represents Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi, or Excel Sports Management.

It is widely expected that Federer will follow Godsick to his new agency, though the Swiss tennis star, who is estimated to bring in $52 million per year in prize money and endorsements, cited confidentiality issues in his refusal to confirm those reports.

IMG has publicly wished Godsick well, but the agency had a much different response with a similar situation back in 1999 when IMG agent Jeff Schwartz resigned only to open his own sports law firm, bringing his current clients Pete Sampras, Martina Hingis, and Marcelo Rios with him. IMG immediately filed suit in federal court and even attempted to get Schwartz disbarred.

"He was given confidential information about the company and betrayed our trust," said Bob Kain, the longtime head of IMG's tennis division at the time. "We trained Jeff and gave him his clients -- it's not like he recruited Pete -- and this is the appreciation we get."

At the core of the Schwartz dispute was what IMG considered to be a breach of contract, and one can only assume that is not an issue in the case of Godsick's departure. It is ironic, however, that Excel Sports Management -- a potential new home for Godsick -- was founded by none other than Schwartz himself. It also is worth noting that Excel employs Godsick's friend and another displaced IMG executive, Mark Steinberg (agent to Tiger Woods).

With the loss of many of its agents and clients to competitors, some are speculating that IMG may be trying to get out of the representation business altogether. But it may not be a voluntary move. One sports industry veteran told OpposingViews.com that the loss of Godsick and Federer is a crushing blow after the recent implosion of IMG's golf division, and that "the ship is sinking."