Tony Godsick, the longtime agent of Roger Federer, has resigned from the sports agency IMG. According to the Sports Business Journal, Federer's contract with IMG just lapsed. IMG is hoping to work with Federer in the future.
It is unclear whether Godsick will work with Federer again, but he is a close friend of the world No. 3, and his wife, U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez, is also a friend of Federer's wife, Mirka.
When asked at Roland Garros if Godsick was still representing him, Federer said: "Right now, I don’t think so."
Federer signed with IMG in 2005 after being recruited by the company’s late owner, Ted Forstmann. Federer was first represented with IMG and then briefly left the company, when his business was managed by Mirka, his mother Lynette, and a lawyer from Switzerland.
"I left [IMG] already, back when," Federer said. "This is not the first time. So obviously it's first days of the new months. Obviously this is when contracts sometimes do run out, and that's been the situation in my case."
Its unclear exactly why Godsick left IMG, although the SBJ reported that he was unable to come to terms on a contract. There are rumors that he is considering switching agencies, but may have had a no-compete clause in his old IMG contract. Federer said much of the information was confidential and left the possibility open that he might resign with IMG.
"Yeah, maybe," he said. "I have no idea. I mean, I've had a good time myself. I was very close with Teddy Forstmann, who unfortunately passed away last year. Obviously I had an emotional attachment to the company that way. He was the one who brought me back really, and so obviously when all of that happened, potentially it wasn't helpful. I don't know at this moment what's gonna happen next. But I'm relaxed, which is important at this very moment."
The 30-year-old Federer makes around $52 million per year from prize money and endorsements. IMG, which is for sale, will still receive fees from Federer’s existing deals.