GRAND slam champions John Newcombe and Pat Cash have endorsed Tennis Australia's plans to consider prominent -females as potential directors. 
TA will accelerate the process to replace former players Kerryn Pratt and Janet Young and businessman Peter Armstrong, who quit on the eve of the Australian Open after a rift with fellow board members.
Their resignations follow those last year of media buyer Harold Mitchell and Bank Of Melbourne chief executive Scott Tanner.
With three vacancies on the eight-member board, there is now no female representation.
Newcombe said it's time to promote the right candidates.
"There is a chance to get a couple of very prominent business women, they need a couple of women on the board," he said.
"I know they are looking for that and I think if they can get a couple of strong male business leaders as well to help give the board very good direction.
"I think as far as things are going, Tennis Australia is doing a great job." While neither the departed directors nor TA are able to disclose the issues that led to board-level tension, it is understood there was friction over procedural matters.
The tension is believed to have stemmed, in part, from discussions relating to TA's broadcast negotiations.
There were unconfirmed reports that some board members felt intimidated by the conduct of others at meetings.
Cash said the onus was on the board to "prove to all people in Australia that they are moving in the right direction and that they have got a variety of people on board"."The tendency has been an old boys network," he said.