Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both uncomfortable with Chris Kermode’s exit (Picture: Getty Images) Neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal are impressed with Novak Djokovic and the player council’s role in Chris Kermode being ousted as Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) president. Kermode is to be removed from his position after three player representatives on the ATP board voted for his contract to be terminated. exclusive Instagrammer accused in £4,000,000 forex 'scam' finally breaks silence Both Federer and Nadal are supporters of Kermode and they have both been left frustrated by the lack of communication before the decision to remove him was confirmed. Djokovic is the head of the player council, which was hugely influential in the decision to oust Kermode, and the Serb has drawn the ire of his fellow players by not consulting them. Novak Djokovic has received criticism over Kermode’s departure (Picture: Getty Images) Federer spoke to Swiss journalists of the situation at Indian Wells: ‘It is hard for me to express a clear opinion because I am no longer politically active. Actually, I want the people who are at the helm doing that. ‘For me, it’s just important that I know why it happened, and what should happen now, what’s on the agenda. I want to know what the motive was, what Kermode does not seem to have done well. ‘I would have tended to be more for him. In the past, there were always situations in which one had to say: he or she just has to go away, it’s no longer possible. But that was not the case with Kermode. Chris Kermode still has plenty of supporters (Picture: Getty Images) ‘I tried to meet Novak on the deadline. Unfortunately he had no time. That’s hard to understand for me. He suggested that we see each other the day after – but everything was already decided. We have not met yet. ‘I’m already interested in what’s behind it, why it happened like that. I have to think about whether I should get more involved again in the future, for the sake of the tour, or if I should just get involved a bit without going through politics. ‘I cannot just look away and say I’m not interested. I also talked to Rafa [Nadal]. We are on the same page, that’s important to him and me. ‘Many were behind Kermode. Not all have the same priorities. Some think primarily of money, others of the tournament calendar, others are more concerned with power.’ Nadal was similarly cautious, but was keen to vent his frustrations over the significant development for the ATP. ‘I can’t say much about this, because as you know, I am outside of the politics,’ Nadal said at the BNP Paribas Open. ‘Nobody (from the council) came to me to explain why this stuff happened. ‘But at the same time, of course, I am disappointed that nobody came and explained why, what’s the real reason of we don’t have Chris continuing running our sport. ‘Normally, they have to ask the players about what they think to make a crucial decision like this one, and I really hope that they did with the rest of the players. If they did it, is great. It was not my case. ‘Nobody text me to speak about or to ask me about what’s my thoughts about that decision. ‘Probably the guys who are running the council, they didn’t do the right job, because when they are there (on the board) they are there representing us, so normally they have to ask what our opinion is. ‘Not in every small decision, but in big decisions. In my opinion, this one was a big decision.’ Kermode has not yet left his position, but is due to exit later this year, with a replacement set to be named shortly. MORE : The wider implications of Chris Kermode’s ATP departure after Novak Djokovic-led coup MORE : Pain-free Andy Murray confirms plans to extend tennis career<doc-sep>Roger Federer: ATP needs ‘proper plan’ following Kermode vote FREE for news on the biggest players and tournaments SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. It was decided last week that current president Chris Kermode’s contract would not be extended beyond the end of the year. The Briton is in the second three-year term as the chief of the organisation but did not receive the backing of tournament and player representatives, with Player Council president Novak Djokovic believed to be against keeping the 54-year-old in charge. Rafael Nadal and Federer were among the big-name vocal supporters of extending Kermode’s tenure. The ATP’s financial and commercial growth and the boosts in attendance and viewership of the tour were cited as key reasons to continue Kermode’s leadership. Nadal aimed a slant at Djokovic at Indian Wells as he claimed the council do not share the views of the majority of the players on tour. The Spaniard said: “I am disappointed that nobody came and explained why, what's the real reason of we don't have Chris continuing running our sport. “The guys who are in the council, at the end of the day, represent the rest of the players. They don't represent their opinions only. “Normally, they have to ask the players about what they think to make a crucial decision like this one, and I really hope that they did with the rest of the players. Roger Federer wants a new CEO with strong tennis knowledge Chris Kermode has been the ATP president since 2014 We’ve had it in the past, it takes a lot of time Roger Federer “If they did it, is great. It was not my case. I have my phone with me. So nobody text me to speak about or to ask me about what's my thoughts about that decision.” And now Federer - who has revealed that he has sat down with Nadal to discuss the future of tennis and the sport’s political landscape - has revealed he is keen for a president who has strong knowledge of the game. Asked what qualities any new CEO needs, the Swiss legend said: “We need a good leader, clearly. “We need - I guess in my opinion - someone who knows the game. “Otherwise we will lose a year to that person meeting all the people. “We’ve had it in the past, it takes a lot of time. Yeah, a lot of work ahead of us to say the least.” Novak Djokovic was key in the decision to oust Kermode Roger Federer was in support of Chris Kermode staying as CEO Rafael Nadal also wanted to keep Kermode in place<doc-sep>After his three-set win on Friday in Indian Wells over Dan Evans, Stan Wawrinka commented on the ATP Chief Executive Chris Kermode leaving the board at the end of the year. “I’m really, really sad and disappointed about that", said the former world No. 3. "If you look what Chris achieved for the tennis, for every player, for every fan, for everyone around the tennis, it’s been amazing. So it was really sad news yesterday morning”. Novak Djokovic reportedly backed Kermode leaving ATP Presidency. On it, Wawrinka added: “For sure I know a few players don’t like this decision, but I don’t know about every player. So I cannot really talk for every player. I would say it’s surprising and strange, I’d like to know exactly what they think about after (successor) because that’s the most important thing. When you change someone from that spot who’s doing so well for a few years, you need to have other option, or at least give something. But I’m not in the council, I’m not on the board, so I don’t know everything. I don’t know everything that’s happening. I just know from the players’ side from what I know. For me, I think it’s not the right decision to make, but again, I’m not in the council, so I cannot talk because they know more things than I do. There are some problems in general in politic, in tennis, in governance in the board, in everything. There is a lot of things happening that I don’t think they are right. But we have a council with players that are doing a lot of work, a lot of time for it, and they took the decision. I’m okay to always talk about what I feel, what I think. I’m not saying I’m right. I’m just saying that’s only my opinion. At the end of the day, it’s just what I feel”.<doc-sep>
Roger Federer: ATP needs ‘proper plan’ following Kermode vote Djokovic, chairman of the Players’ Council, led a revolt against ATP chairman Kermode, who is being made to step down at the end of the year following a vote last Thursday. Roger Federer has been very vocal in giving his support to Kermode. And now Nadal has also stepped in to explain why he is frustrated with world No 1 Djokovic. “It was my decision to be outside of the politics,” said Nadal. “But at the same time, I am disappointed that nobody came and explained why, what's the real reason of we don't have Chris continuing running our sport. “The guys who are in the council, at the end of the day, represent the rest of the players. They don't represent their opinions only. “Normally, they have to ask the players about what they think to make a crucial decision like this one, and I really hope that they did with the rest of the players. “If they did it, is great. It was not my case. I have my phone with me. So nobody text me to speak about or to ask me about what's my thoughts about that decision.” Rafael Nadal is furious with Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic led the revolt against Chris Kermode Nadal stepped down from the Players’ Council seven years ago but he still feels his opinion on the matter should have been taken on board. And he has asked to be contacted so that the removal of Kermode can be explained. “If a lot of players says this [that they weren’t consulted]… probably the guys who are running the council, they didn't make the right job, because they are there representing us, so normally they have to ask what's our opinion,” he added. “I really believe that after 18 years, 17 years around this sport probably I have a good perspective of the things that can work well, other things that don't work that well. Roger Federer was also upset with the result of the vote Rafael Nadal prepares for the BNP Paribas Open in California