A sudden change of heart by Sherri Williams has left executive members of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) shocked and disappointed.

It has also thrown into chaos plans already in the works for the implementation of a tennis programme in Island schools, scheduled to begin as early as January.

Less than two weeks before the Pennsylvania native was to begin her job as Development Consultant for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in Bermuda, Williams last week informed the BLTA that she was reneging on her decision to pull up stakes in the US and move here for at least the next 10 months.

BLTA president David Lambert officially learned of Williams' decision last Thursday. The BLTA was faxed a tersely-worded, two-sentence note from the ITF's development department confirming the news just 10 days before the highly-regarded tennis instructor was to assume her post. Wrote Victoria Billington of the ITF: "We are very sorry for this late change regarding Ms Williams' appointment. Please find attached our suggested press release, which I hope will be of use.'' The press release stated that "it is with deep regret and surprise that the ITF has learned that for personal reasons, Ms Williams will not be able to assume her position as Development Consultant to the BLTA as previously confirmed. Williams was due to commence work with the BLTA on a pilot project organised in conjunction with the ITF to assist tennis development in Bermuda.

The ITF regrets the situation but looks forward to working with the BLTA on projects involving the development of tennis in Bermuda in the future.'' Williams refused to divulge any reasons for her sudden decision when contacted at her apartment in Philadelphia on Sunday.

"I need to speak with the (ITF) first,'' said Williams, clearly nervous about answering any questions. "I need to have a follow up conversation with them and I haven't had that yet. I'd prefer to talk to them before I kind of give any type of statement to the press. Then if you want to call me back...certainly I'll have any statement issued through the press either directed through the BLTA, but after I've fully gotten back to the ITF and finalised our discussions.'' Lambert and members of the BLTA executive, who met yesterday, thought they had finalised their own discussions with Williams in early July and were anticipating Williams' arrival by October 23. Williams, in fact, was so anxious to begin her job that she was actually going to be here a week earlier than planned.

A member of the ITF's development department in England, who was reluctant to speak to the media, did confirm that Williams has not returned their phone calls and has never officially told them that she had decided against going to Bermuda.

"I'm in the department and I know we've been trying to get in touch with Sherri since the day we found out from the BLTA she wasn't coming,'' said a department spokesperson who would not reveal her name. "I don't know whether she's been out of town, but we've left messages for her three times a week.'' General Manager Doug MacCurdy, the second most powerful official at the ITF, expressed dismay over Williams' decision and suggested it might not be so easy to find a quick replacement.

"She had a rather unique set of qualifications,'' said MacCurdy in a telephone interview from Spain. "I'm not so sure how quickly something like that would turn up again.'' What is certain, however, is that Williams has not been entirely forthcoming to the BLTA or ITF about her change of plans.

"I haven't had a particularly good explanation,'' said MacCurdy. "We're equally as disappointed.'' In a conversation with BLTA administrator Joseph Morley, the 26-year-old Williams would only reveal that family problems played a role in her decision.

"I'm not so much angry,'' said Lambert. "Let's use the word disappointed because what happens is you build up and we were ready to have her here. I was ready a month ago and sat down each day and I wrote down different objectives and different goals.'' Lambert, however, acknowledged that Williams' about face could be a setback for the schools programme, which she was expected to spearhead. Even if the ITF supply the BLTA with a replacement, which Lambert has requested, it is highly unlikely that the person would arrive before February.

Williams was also going to play a significant role in Bermuda's Davis Cup team, currently getting ready for a second foray in the competition in late January.

"Right now there is a void,'' admitted Lambert. "The plan was laid out first of all to get the schools programme constructed and put into place where it will last, not something that will run for a couple of months and then fall to pieces. And then you have the Federation and Davis Cup teams and the Sunday afternoon programme which begins on October 29. Her being here was going to be a plus.'' Later he said: "The executive is a bit upset because we found accommodation for her, we have transportation for her. We did everything that we were supposed to do.'' Williams was coming to Bermuda with impeccable credentials having been a tennis coach in California and Pennsylvania. In an interview last month she said she was eager to get involved in all aspects of the BLTA, including marketing and public relations. Said Williams at the time: "The earlier I get down there the better. I want to jump right in and get my feet wet.'' BLTA officials actually got their first hint that Williams was having second thoughts when she informed Morley two weeks ago that there might be a delay in her arrival.

"I didn't move any further on it because it was nothing definite,'' said Lambert. "She was having some personal problems and I didn't want to pry. I don't know her that well to say `come on you've got to tell me your personal business'.'' Lambert, however, remains determined to get a schools programme launched early next year.

"I wouldn't say this is going to stop us completely,'' he said. "In organisations and in your own goals sometimes you have a few problems, but you have to keep on pushing.

"I think we can still try to put a schools programme together. There are, I think, people in Bermuda that we can sit down with and collectively put together a programme. But I needed someone that could concentrate solely on this. Unfortunately, we don't have anyone right now that can just sit down and say `this is all I'm going to do for the next month'. Unfortunately a lot of us have other jobs and (Williams) just sounded like the person who could definitely do it.'' Sherri Williams David Lambert