IN his time, he has been a long-time sponsor, regular club

player, occasional driver of the supporters' club minibus and

has, every so often, served in the bar.

Now Felix Frixou is to take on a new role which has made

sure the name of Benz-Bavarian Duffield will challenge again in

the Premier Squash League next season.

Frixou has taken over as manager of the two-time champions

from Brian Hargrave, who stepped down at the end of last

season.

As managing director of Benz-Bavarian, his sponsorship was a

big factor in helping the Derbyshire village team become the

most successful club team in the country and now he has the

task of helping to win back the title.

“I couldn't just let it die,” he said. “Nobody else could do

it so I had to take it on or else that was a lot of people's

hard work, and 15 years of sponsorship, down the pan. It was a

bit of a no-brainer really.”

After 15 years of managing Duffield in the PSL and leading

them to national titles in 2006 and 2007, Hargrave announced he

would leave the role at the age of 66, when they were knocked

out in the semi-finals of last season's play-offs.

His last season was a mixed one, with the team extending

their long winning streak to 23 games, which was broken only

when a string of injuries to their top players left them in no

state to seriously challenge for a hat-trick of titles.

With a clean bill of health, Duffield will be fancied to be

among the leading contenders but Frixou is aware that, as the

new man in charge, there is an added dimension to this

challenge.

“It's a two-way thing really,” he said. “I suppose the

pressure is off in the eyes of a lot of people because we

didn't win last season but, for me, it has put the pressure on

to get that third title.

“I didn't realise how much work Brian did until I tried to

do what he did. He's a hard act to follow.

“Following Brian and trying to improve on something as good

as we had really does test you. I've been used to challenges

all my life and this is certainly one of those.”

The first part of Frixou's task was to sign up the players

he wanted and it has certainly helped that those who were so

important to Duffield, when they were winning titles, already

had a good relationship with their new manager.

Men's world number seven Nick Matthew is fit again and keen

to make up for a season wrecked by injury, as is women's world

number six Tania Bailey.

“Nick has been playing some tournaments and has been playing

very well,” added Frixou.

“It was a tough decision for him to make to step out of it

at a crucial stage of the season and have surgery but he took

the right advice. I spoke to David Pearson, the England coach,

the other day and he is quite happy with Nick's progress.

“Tania reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open a

couple of weeks ago and I had an e-mail from her to say she was

feeling good and looking forward to playing for Duffield

again.

“Persuading players to stay wasn't that difficult. They all

want to play for us. The crowds are good and they feel at

home.”

Andy Whipp, Peter Billson, Alex Stait, Laura Hill, Shaun Le

Roux, Laurence Delasaux and Millie Tomlinson have also

committed to the squad.

Frixou is attempting to persuade Australian world number 14

Stewart Boswell to do likewise and is hoping to tempt Jon Kemp,

a key member of the two title-winning sides, to return.

The 27-year-old spent last season with Redditch, winning

seven PSL matches and losing only two.

One new face is Chris Fuller, a 17-year-old who was the 2007

British Junior Champion and played for England in the Under-19

European Junior Championships in March this year.