Linda Elriani, the greatest squash player Sussex has ever produced, is buzzing after finding a substitute drug for her sporting habit.

Elriani, who has maintained a world top-six place since the mid-Nineties, announced her retirement following a 16-year career this week finishing on a high, clutching a European gold medal with England.

But she is ready for the next challenge in her life, the production of youngsters to follow in her footsteps.

The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist will begin a joint club coaching role with husband Laurent in Greenwich, just north of New York, in September after obtaining a five-year work visa.

Elriani, the 2005 British champion said: "I thought I'd be really sad and nervous about the whole thing. I can be emotional.

"I've only ever lived in either Heathfield, Hailsham or Eastbourne and yet here I am going off to live and work in a new country.

"But I am buzzing with excitement and really looking forward to it. I have been fortunate in being able to carry on in the sport I love while getting a whole new challenge.

"I feel like tennis coach Brad Gilbert who said at Wimbledon that he hadn't worked a day in his life because he is involved in his passion the whole time.

"I would love to think that I can help more Linda Elrianis come through, although the main thing is to make sure all the kids I teach enjoy the sport at whatever level they can. I was a top player and am determined to be a top coach."

Elriani, 34, is spending this summer coaching in Hong Kong and taking a team of juniors from America's east coast to European tournaments before settling into her new full-time role.

She said: "I was worried about not earning any money in the summer but now I don't have to. The temporary jobs enabled me to control of the timing of my decision to quit. I don't have to eke things out in a limited number of tournaments until September."

Elriani has also had two warm-up weeks coaching at the Field Club of Greenwich.

She said: "That was a big help in underlining that we had made the right decision. I coached 18 kids for 12 hours a day. They were wonderful. Everyone has been so welcoming and Greenwich reminds me of the rural places in Sussex I've lived."

The 2005 British champion still enjoys playing and admits it will be a wrench for her to give up the circuit after so long.

She said: "I will miss the competition and certain people but a lot of my friends have retired or are about to.

"Sixteen years is a long time but the time is right. I've paid my dues and I'm very pleased with the way my body has held out.

"I'm a bit of an old 'un now in terms of squash and my pictures need air-brushing to hide the wrinkles these days!

"I've been very lucky and I struggle to think of many down times in my career.

"I think I can hang up my racket with a smile on my face."

Elriani, coached by Mike Harris at Corals (Hove), looks back fondly on a career of glittering success.

She captained England to the world title in 2000, made more than 70 international appearances, including nine European triumphs, won 14 circuit titles and played in three Commonwealth Games, besides her national success at the 17th attempt.

She said: "I am proud to have stayed in the world top six for so long. I'd loved to have been world No.1 and world champion but not everyone can be one of those.

"I think I've done the best I can.

"I've done everything I can do. I can sustain what I've got but I'm not going to get better. I have good days and other days it's harder."

Elriani has no regrets over her playing career but would have liked to have found a coaching job in England rather than the United States.

She said: "Ideally, I wanted to put something back into English squash which has given me so much.

"But you've got to pay the bills and there are not enough jobs to go around.

"America is where the money is and it is a country in which the sport is actually growing.

"Perhaps I can return to help produce future champions one day in England."