Southampton's Chris Wilkinson believes his Lee-on-the-Solent team is on course for promotion to the Kia National Club League Premier Division after a run of three straight wins in the league stages.

Lee began their rise through the NCL following the arrival of Wilkinson, pictured, as club coach four years ago.

"I entered a team which started at the bottom but has been going upwards over a four-year period," said the world over-35 champion. "We started at County Division 2, which we won, got promoted to National Division 2 and so far we've played three matches and won three.

"We are sitting in a nice position with a chance to move into National Division 1, which I have played in many times many years ago."

Wilkinson and his team of local players have already attracted strong support from club members. Almost 70 filled the seats during Sunday's win against top-of-the-league Oxford Sports.

Wilkinson said: "In the team we have a 16-year-old who I teach, Pete Francis, who has an under-18 world ranking of around 500 and is one of the top ten guys in the country at under-18 level.

"The good thing we do which is probably quite different to a lot of other teams is we have a keen interest from the members. If we get into the National division and we get the best players competing against us down here we'll get over 100 people watching."

This weekend Lee face Great Missenden. They meet Branscombe Park and Chesham Bois in the last two ties in June.

Meanwhile the Lee club is also trying to encourage existing members and attract new ones at a Play Tennis Open Day (Saturday, June 3) which features an exhibition between the two former Davis Cup players Wilkinson and Andrew Castle from 2pm. There will be junior clinics (11-noon) and adult clinics (noon-1.30pm) Non-members and members are welcome.