Ipswich Town have agreed to cancel goalkeeper Shane Supple's contract at the player's request.
Keeper has Portman Road deal cancelled
Ipswich Town have agreed to cancel goalkeeper Shane Supple's contract at the player's request so that he can pursue a career outside of football.
The 22-year-old, who started Ipswich's Carling Cup success over Shrewsbury last week, has conceded his heart is just not in it anymore.
Supple insists he is walking away from the game and has not left Ipswich in order to play elsewhere.
He admits manager Roy Keane was shocked to learn his decision, but that he fully respected the reasons behind his surprise move.
Walk away
"It's something that I have been thinking about for a long while," he explained on the club's
official website. "I feel that playing professional football is not something I want to continue doing as a career.
"There is no one reason why I have made my decision, there are a number of factors but deep down my heart is not in the game anymore and I'm not going to go into work every day trying to convince myself that it is so it's the right time for me to walk away.
"I suppose you could say that I have fallen out of love with the game and when that happens I've always said to myself that I wouldn't hang around. All I wanted to do when I was younger was play in the Premier League but as you grow up you realise that there are other things in life and to be honest, the game is not what I thought it was.
Shocked
"(Roy Keane) was a bit shocked when I told him and I expected that but he understood my reasons. He's been first class. People probably think I'm crazy but I'm not going to stay in the game for anyone else.
"I've worked with some great people in my time at Ipswich. It's a fantastic football club and I'll continue to follow Ipswich's fortunes. The supporters have been brilliant as well and always backed me.
"This is the right decision for me now. I'm going back to Ireland to spend time with my family and look at my options but they won't be in football."
