ONE of the premier coaches in UK badminton is spending a week in Guernsey to help prepare players for a new domestic season.  Lyndon Williams, the former Welsh international player and head coach of the Welsh Badminton Union, will be in the island for the next week.

He has a busy schedule involving coaching among schools, senior clubs, juniors and the island’s top players in the county squad. The initiative is part of a total revamp of playing structures following the departure of development officer Paul Le Tocq in March.

GBA president John Stuart explained: ‘Paul’s departure coupled with the retirement of Pauline Leadbeater meant that we had to rethink how we could adequately cope with our hugely busy playing calendar with the relatively small number of volunteer coaches and helpers that we have available to us.

‘We have recreated a new junior committee to oversee junior playing activities,’ he added.

This has led to a co-ordinated link between the main junior club held on Monday afternoon – St Michael’s run by Jane Mahy from 3.45 to 5.45 – and the junior squad sessions which are held on Tuesday evenings from 5.45 to 7.15.