Newport County striker Mark Dickeson today conceded defeat over his injury nightmare and retired from football at the age of 29.

After much soul-searching, the Welsh semi-professional international admitted he will never fully recover from the cruciate ligament injury to his right knee that he suffered last season.

"I am one third of the player I was," he sighed.

"I am really struggling to recover from my cruciate knee ligament injury and it takes me three days or so to recover from playing matches now. I find it difficult to get out of bed the next morning and I take an hour to get down the stairs!

"And however much I am loathe to admit it, my body is telling me it is time to call it a day.

"I don't want to suffer problems walking in later life and I want to enjoy my young family.

"I have been playing through immense pain this season and I feel twice my age. My fitness is really struggling and my form has suffered as a result.

"It is both gutting and frustrating but a major part of my game is my workrate. Now I can work at only 40 per cent of my previous capacity. That's not through choice. I just can't do it."

Dickeson's right knee was reconstructed after he suffered massive cruciate ligament damage in County's Dr Martens League game with Chippenham Town last season, just the ninth match into his Exiles career following his much-hyped switch from Welsh Premier League Llanelli in the summer of 2002.

Dickeson has only played 28 games for County in all competitions, scoring just four goals. "A big disappointment is that Newport County fans have not seen the real Mark Dickeson," he said.

Dickeson's £375-a-week County contract was due to expire next summer but, after agreement with both parties, that has now been terminated with no settlement fee.

"Newport County have been great to me, now it's time to be fair to them and me," admitted the father-of-two.

"Retiring is a decision I haven't taken lightly. I'm not in it for the money, quality of life is much more important to me.

"I was at the club to score goals and now I'm finding it difficult to do that. So Newport can use my wages to bring in someone else."

County director Steve Sulley conceded: "This as an unfortunate end to his career.

"Mark has been an important member of the squad since he joined us in the summer of 2002 and when he's fully fit he has competed well for us.

"Mark has been professional in his approach throughout his time with the club and this is being demonstrated in the manner of his departure." County retain his football registration.