BURNLEY midfielder Alan Moore admits he may retire from football after being released by Burnley.

The former Republic of Ireland winger had his contract terminated last week in one of Clarets manager Stan Ternent's final acts.

Moore played 84 times for Burnley after joining from Middlesbrough on a three-year-deal following a successful trial.

But the disgruntled wide man now claims to be seriously considering hanging up his boots for good after leaving Turf Moor.

He said: "I'm going to enjoy a long break this summer because my body has taken a bit of a battering over the years.

"I intend to spend a bit of time with my family in Ireland because it's so long since I've been back home.

"I don't really know what the future holds and after some thought, I may even decide the time has come to retire. But for now I just need a rest."

The 29-year-old never fully won over the Turf Moor faithful, despite getting his career with the Clarets off to a bright start.

Moore scored two goals in the opening three league games of a campaign in which he made 23 starts.

Last season saw an alarming dip in form and the Irishman featured as many times from the bench as he did in the starting line up.

The highlight of an inconsistent season was undoubtedly the goal at Fulham that earned an FA Cup replay and helped set up a quarter final tie at Watford that ended in a disappointing defeat.

This season, Moore began the opening three games following the summer cull that severely limited Ternent's options.

However following the third - a 4-1 defeat at West Brom - he received an icy blast from Ternent, who warned the winger he would not play again unless he stepped up his game.

True to his word, Moore was relegated back to the bench before ankle surgery in October ruled him out until the new year.

Moore returned to the side as a sub in January's FA Cup win at Mansfield, but started just four more games before the manager's patience finally ran out.