LUKE Winsper revealed his need to play regular first-team football fuelled his decision to leave the Terras.

The midfielder, who had been forced to play a bit-part role in the last two-and-a-half seasons due a metatarsal injury he sustained at Bashley in March 2014, took to Twitter to announce his departure and wished the club the best for the future.

Explaining the decision further, Winsper said: “I spoke to Jase (Matthews, manager) and he said he wanted me to stay but I said to him that I needed to play firstteam football week in week out.

“Because of my injuries I haven’t been doing that and I know it would be tough to get that at Weymouth. I feel I need to move somewhere else to get that run of games.

“It’s not the money side of things or anything like that, I just need to play football.

“Jase completely understands what I said. I love the club and had been there for five or six years.

“You never know, if I get that run of games after a couple of seasons away, if Jase is still in charge he may say to come back.

“I have made some friends I will never lose contact with and that’s the main thing for me. Although over the last years I haven’t played much, I have always kept contact with the lads.

“I know even when I do move clubs I will come down and see them.”

Also commenting on Winsper’s departure, player-manager Matthews added: “From Luke’s point of view I couldn’t promise him first team football on a regular basis and that’s what he wanted.

“We would like to have kept him around but, obviously Luke has decided that he should go and play regular football.

“He has been a great servant on very little money and I can’t speak highly enough of him. I gave him a chance when I first took over and he did very well.

“The problem with his foot took so long to clear up completely and that was probably why we couldn’t get him in. We will be sad to see him go because he is a great lad as well.”

While he remains unsure as to where his next club will be at present, the midfielder revealed there were “three or four clubs that are interested” with “a couple of clubs in the same league”.

Winsper added: “I haven’t chosen where I am going yet, Jase asked that but I have a few options so I will have to just wait and see.

“I think there are three or four clubs that are interested, I haven’t made my mind up.”

  • Terras’ boss Matthews also confirmed the club have a home friendly on Tuesday, July 19, against Eastleigh.