The current financial difficulties at Squash Ireland are of concern to those who, like myself, are modest but enthusiastic practitioners of this physically testing racket-and-ball substitute for chess. The operation, which runs two health and fitness centres in Dublin, handed service over to the receiver this week, much to the chagrin of its 200 members, many of whom question Squash Ireland's commitment to the business. The company, playing a high defensive ball looping to the back of the court, says that the unused portion of member's subscription "will have to await the outcome of the receivership". Squash Ireland, established in 1973, originally operated three centres, in Dalkey, Dartry and Clontarf - the Dalkey centre has already been sold for property development. Dartry and Clontarf are both sited in the grounds of schools and difficulties have arisen between the company and its leaseholder, the Department of Education, over the terms of the lease on the Clontarf property. In its heyday during the 1980's squash was a boom sport with particular kudos among professional classes, burning rubber seen as the ideal physical and emotional therapy to a hard day at the office. The game, which produced an Irish world champion in Jona Barrington, has since fallen on hard times, squash clubs now primarily serving the needs of body narcissism with aerobics and weight training gyms. Should Squash Ireland fail to keep the ball in play, apart from distressing creditors, it will further narrow the playing options of ageing hackers like myself. While courts still remain playing - and paying - creditors can only vent their frustration by hammering the squash ball.