Matt Murray today admitted it was a "hard and emotional" decision to call it a day on his professional career - but is keeping the hope alive that he will be involved again at Wolves in the future.

The popular keeper has today announced his retirement from the game having been unable to recover sufficiently from a ruptured patella tendon, ending a playing association at Wolves which goes back to him joining the Academy at the age of nine.

CEO Jez Moxey has already indicated he has had brief discussions about possibilities in the future after Murray - one of the heroes of Wolves' play-off winning season of 2002/03 - was forced to call it a day.

"Up until a few weeks ago I thought I'd turned the corner," said Murray.

"I'd always thought I could get back and the specialist said the same thing.

"So I kept going and gave it my all.

"I've had two sets of surgery, numerous injections, been in braces, done all the work in the gym.

"I did everything I could but when I got to that last bit of training I just don't think I can play to the level I need to play at.

"It has given me a lot of discomfort and it does affect me to the extent I was sometimes finding it difficult to walk properly after training.

"Everyone here has been unbelievable - the physios, the doc, the gaffer, the fans - I couldn't have asked for any more from anyone.

"And my family have stood by me and would have supported me either way.

"I can look at myself in the mirror and say nobody could have done any more and that's myself and everyone else around me."

Amid the difficult decision Murray admits he will now take time to ponder his next move.

He admits there are several early options, and has already taken one of his coaching badges.

"I've now got to look to something different," he adds.

"It's hard and it's emotional because it's where I've been since I was nine and I'm not going to be a player here anymore.

"But I've got to look forward now to the rest of my life.

"I've got a family and two young kids and I'll spend some time with them in deciding what to do next.

"I've done my first coaching badge and have enquired about the goalkeeping coaching badge.

"I'm still toying with the idea of doing a degree in sports science as well.

"I love the game and want to stay in football.

"And I'll certainly be hoping that one day I'm involved in some capacity at this club again.

"I can't be a professional footballer any more but I can't think about what I've lost - it's the future now.

"I've had a couple of seasons I really enjoyed and I wouldn't change it for the world particularly with the people I've met along the way and the experiences I have had."