FORMER Burnley striker striker Chris Iwelumo has announced his retirement from football.

The 6ft 3in former Scotland international signed a one-year contract with Conference side Chester at the start of the season but had not played since October 4.

The 36-year-old spent the 2010/11 season with Burnley after being signed by Brian Laws following the Clarets’ relegation from the Premier League.

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He scored 11 goals in his one campaign with the club, most notably scoring a hat-trick in a dramatic 4-3 home victory over Lancashire rivals Preston North End.

But he was not always a regular starter as the season went on, with 19 of his 50 appearances for Burnley coming as a substitute.

Eddie Howe replaced Laws as boss midway through that season and Iwelumo was sold to Watford in the summer of 2011.

He later had loan spells with Notts County and Oldham Athletic before moving on to Scunthorpe United on a free transfer.

He then had a spell with St Johnstone in Scotland before moving to Chester, but he has stepped up his work in the media over the last couple of months, starting life as a pundit on TalkSport.

“The day has arrived,” he told his 8,000 followers on Twitter yesterday.

“Today I sadly announce my retirement from football following a long and blessed career.”