Alan McCormack describes his time at Northampton Town as a "privilege" despite being one of 13 players released by the Cobblers after the club's promotion to League One last Monday.
The Dubliner, 36, helped the club through the League Two play-offs - the third year in a row he has been promoted, following Luton's back to back progress to the Championship, and his fifth promotion in total.
But the veteran midfielder is on his way out after one injury-hit season. "I'll always be a (Northampton) fan now," McCormack said.
Cobblers boss Keith Curle explained: "Alan was my first meeting this morning, I met him at half eight and it was important to meet face-to-face.
"It was a difficult conversation but a realistic conversation because I know where Alan is at - he wants to play games and he needs to play games.
"There are some similarities between Alan and myself when I was 37, 38. Neil (Warnock) at the time wanted me to go into coaching and do coaching but he also knew that I still had a desire and I wanted to play games.
"That's where I am at now. I think Alan will go into coaching and management but he's still got that desire to play games and that's important and most former footballers will tell you to play as long as you can.
"That was my message to Alan. I told him that I think he has a lot to offer, both as a player and a professional, and he's still got game-time in him and he needs to go and play more games.
"He understood and he agreed and the pleasing thing is that he's enjoyed his time here and he's enjoyed his connection with the club.
"But he wanted to play more games and he knows he would have played more games without the injuries. Would he have accepted going up a level and potentially not playing as many games?
"I don't think that would have been the right way for Alan to continue his career".
