Keith Jackson, 56, chairman of the Sussex County Table Tennis Association for the past six years, is poised to retire at the annual meeting on July 15.

Having only six weeks' notice of his decision to step down has left the county officials with little time to find his successor.

County secretary Alan Beames (Patcham) said: "We would have appreciated a year's notice to fill this key post but we will have to do our best to find a person willing to take on the job shortly."

Jackson severely ruptured his Achilles tendon playing table tennis at Haywards Heath going for a wide ball three months ago and only now is recovering most of his mobility.

He feels he no longer wishes to keep a major administrative role now that he is unable to play. He has been warned by his doctor that to continue playing table tennis could lead to severe mobility problems.