Rotherham United striker Richie Barker has been forced to retire from football due to a knee injury.
Millers favourite fails to recover from knee injury
Rotherham United striker Richie Barker has been forced to retire from football due to a knee injury.
Barker, who turns 34 on Saturday, has not featured for the Millers since early January after picking up a knee problem.
He underwent surgery on the injury and the Millers were hoping that the forward would be able to return next season.
However, the League Two club have confirmed that Barker has hung up his boots and have paid tribute to the player.
Model professional
Chief operating officer Paul Douglas told the club's
official website: "Richie has been a model professional throughout his time with Rotherham United and everyone at the club would like to thank him for his service over the years.
"Richie was an integral part of a very successful period in this club's history during his first spell, and it is unfortunate that injury has curtailed his career at the start of what we hoped would be an equally successful era.
"I am sure that Richie's knowledge and experience in the game will hold him in good stead should he decide to stay in football in some capacity, and everyone at the club would like to wish him all the best for the future."
Barker returned for a second spell at Rotherham from Hartlepool United in October and also played for the likes of Brighton and Macclesfield after starting his career at Sheffield Wednesday.
