Connolly hangs up his boots

AFC Wimbledon striker David Connolly has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.

The 37-year-old made over 400 senior club appearances during his career that saw him turn out for Watford, Feyenoord, Wolves, Excelsior, Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester, Wigan, Sunderland, Southampton, Portsmouth and Oxford. He also appeared 41 times for Republic of Ireland and featured at the 2002 World Cup as a substitute during the second-round defeat to Spain. Connolly joined AFC Wimbledon in January after his contract with Portsmouth was cancelled by mutual consent. It was his second spell with the club, having played for the old Wimbledon between 2001 and 2003, when he scored 42 goals in 68 appearances. He managed just one goal in eight games this time around, but that strike was a stoppage-time winner during a 3-2 victory over Luton. The veteran called it a day following discussions with his manager and former team-mate Neal Ardley. He told the Dons' official website: "I pulled Neal aside for a heart-to-heart chat and I felt that now was the time to call it a day. "As time has gone on I felt that starting games was difficult and so too was travelling up and down the country to come off the bench for 10 minutes or so. Neal needed a striker that could play off (Adebayo) Akinfenwa and start games and that wasn't me. "I have always had fond memories of this club and my winning goal against Luton will live long in the memory. It was great to bring that joy to everyone at the club." Ardley had warm praise for his departing player. He told Dons Player: "David was the best striker I ever played with. I played with some good ones when I was with England Under-21s. "David's movement and understanding of space was first class. He is a good friend of mine and a good friend of the club. I have invited David to come back and do coaching at the club whenever he is ready. "I have total respect for David. He feels that the money we are paying him would be better spent on someone who can start games. He does not feel he is that person. "That is a rare quality to accept that. I cannot speak highly enough of him. I tried to talk him around, but his mind was made up. "He is a great guy and it would have been sad if he had not had that great moment against Luton. That felt really special and more than us just getting three points."