Peter Nicol has confirmed his intention to retire, announcing the end of a career which has made him the most successful British squash player of the modern era.

The 33-year-old - who has spent over 12 years in the world top ten - will defend his title at next month's English Open before playing his final match at the World Open in September.

"I have had a wonderful career in squash and have largely achieved all the goals I set myself, but I still feel I have two more titles in me - and I'm training as hard as ever to wrap up my competitive career with two further wins," said Nicol at a reception hosted in his honour by England Squash at the RAC Club in London.

I nverurie-born Nicol achieved fame and some notoriety in Scotland when, having won the 1998 Commonwealth title and the 1999 World Open for the country of his birth, he switched allegiance to England in order to secure better funding.

He went on to win six Professional Squash Association Tour titles and regain his world No 1 ranking, a position he held unopposed for two complete years, as well as the Commonwealth title.

"None of which would have been possible without the England support," added Nicol, who also won four Commonwealth gold medals - two in the singles and two in the men's doubles.