FORMER Hereford United captain Ian Wright has revealed his agony at having to retire with a recurring ankle problem.

Wright, a hugely popular figure at Edgar Street between 1998 and 2003, had joined Nigel Clough's Burton Albion but only made one appearance this season.

And the 32-year-old centre-half was forced to admit defeat as an operation had failed to cure the problem.

Wright, who played more than 140 games for Hereford and recorded an impressive 22 goals, admitted: "At the minute, I'm going to pack it in altogether.

"Every time I do something, the pain comes back and, in the end, my future health has to come first.

"You never say never and maybe I'll be able to play again at a lower level sometime but it doesn't feel that way now."

Wright will agree a settlement of his contract with Burton who he signed for in the summer of last year after leaving Graham Turner's Bulls.

He suffered a kick on the ankle in the second game of last season against Shrewsbury and needed an operation by November 2003.

Though he was back in the side for January, he now concedes he had not fully recovered and he was mainly resting the injury this season in the hope it would improve.

Burton boss Clough said: "It's very, very unfortunate. We looked much more solid with Ian in the team and we feel very sorry for him.

"The operation took away growths on his ankle bone but they have come back and he's decided he has no choice but to call it a day."

Meanwhile, Hereford's Turner could not help but praise new 'keeper Craig Mawson after an astounding debut in mid-week.

The ex-Morecambe and Oldham man saved three penalties as the Bulls kicked League One outfit Doncaster Rovers out of the LDV Vans Trophy on penalties.

Turner said: "I thought he had an exceptionally good game."