Title: Table Tennis England and sport participation policy: managing on the margins

Authors: Tony Halkyard; Barrie Houlihan

Addresses: School of Marketing and Management, Coventry University, Jaguar Building (JAG10), Gosford Street, Coventry, CV1 5PN, UK ' School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE113TU, UK

Abstract: The article provides an analysis of the way in which one mid-sized national governing body of sport, Table Tennis England, manages it relationship with Sport England. Utilising stakeholder theory the article provides a longitudinal analysis from the early 1960s to 2020, of the relationship in connection with five overlapping themes: TTE's response to the pressure to modernise; the sport's funding strategy; the strategy for capacity development; strategies to increase participation; and the development of partnerships. The main findings of the analysis are that: 1) TTE faced considerable challenges in balancing the expectations and demands of external and internal stakeholders; 2) TTE was primarily a policy-taker than a policy-maker and became increasingly vulnerable to policy shifts by more powerful stakeholders in sport, health and youth welfare; 3) TTE's status shifted over time and across policy networks between that of a stakeowner, stakewatcher and stakeseeker; 4) TTE has generally, over a period of almost 50 years, managed to maintain its SE funding while pursuing a strategy that, at least partially, satisfied its members.

Keywords: Table Tennis England; stakeholder theory; inter-organisational relations; strategy management; relationship management; Sport England; longitudinal analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.138991

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2024 Vol.24 No.3/4, pp.290 - 312

Received: 26 Feb 2023
Accepted: 25 Oct 2023
Published online: 06 Jun 2024 *

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