Top Coaching Role Prompts Vicky Botwright Retirement

After dedicating her life to squash, England international Vicky Botwright has decided to retire from the WISPA World Tour. The 31-year-old from Manchester has accepted the role of Head Squash Coach for Manchester City Council at the city's National Squash Centre.

Since joining the Women's International Squash Players' Association in 1998, Vicky has enjoyed a glittering career, reaching 14 Tour finals and winning four titles, including the Texas Open in the USA in 2006. Four final appearances in the last three months of 2005 took Vicky to a career-high world ranking of five in December 2005.

Away from the Tour, Botwright represented England with distinction in five successful European Team Championship campaigns from 2004 - losing just one match over the period - and led her country to a sensational triumph in the World Team Championships in 2006. A double medallist in the Commonwealth Games in 2006, Vicky won silver in the Mixed Doubles and bronze in the Women's Doubles.

"Vicky's record speaks for itself: ranked as high as five in the world; winner of several WISPA Tour titles; reaching the finals of events such as the Qatar Classic and US Open - she's a bit special," said WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley.

"But these facts only tell part of the story when it comes to Vicky Botwright. The English star has been a wonderful asset for women's squash. Popular on court, the same off it - and one of the names that promoters and spectators always want to see in their draws.

"Manchester have chosen well," added Shelley. "The players there are very fortunate and we wish Vicky all the success that she will surely have in the next phase of her squash career."

Botwright's main duties and responsibilities in her role as Head Squash Coach in her hometown will be to grow participation in squash and racquetball from grassroots through to elite. She will also be responsible for the mentoring of the coaches delivering these programmes and to implement the long term athlete development programme in Manchester.

"I have loved my time on the WISPA circuit," said Botwright, who plans to make her final Tour appearance at the World Open which takes place in her home city in October.

"I have met many wonderful people that have been influential in my life. But I am taking this opportunity to work in my home town of Manchester on a programme that many consider as world class. It's an exciting time for me and I am looking forward to starting my new career."