Ilkley could have an additional tennis tournament next year - a $25,000 Association of Tennis Professionals' Challenger the week after Wimbledon.

That slot was taken by Bristol this year but Bristol Lawn Tennis Club at Redland Green are digging up their grass courts and are not re-laying them.

Because of this Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club have been approached by the Lawn Tennis Association to fill that gap.

An Ilkley club spokesman confirmed: "We have been contacted by the LTA, but negotiations are at an early stage."

However, the situation is further complicated because the deal is likely to be for one year only as in 2005 Wimbledon could be moving back a week in the calendar to give more space between the French Open and the world's premier grass court tournament.

This would mean there would be three weeks between the two Grand Slam tournaments and would create a slot for an extra pre-Wimbledon grass court tournament.

Were Ilkley to accept the one-year post-Wimbledon deal - and they would find it very difficult to attract a sponsor for just one year - they would hope the LTA would look kindly on their desire to become a regular $25,000 Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

Both the post-Wimbledon slot in 2004 and the pre-Wimbledon slot from 2005 onwards - if they happen - would be men's tournaments only but Ilkley would also still have their traditional British Tour tournament at the end of July and their women's County Week group that immediately precedes it.