Former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Dave Rainford has admitted his decision to leave was a tough one to make.
Part-timer Rainford has been offered a senior teaching post at a local school and believes it would be difficult to continue to juggle both roles.
"I still feel I've got five or six years of decent football to play," he told BBC Essex.
"But in the role of the two jobs it might be best now, with the opportunity with work, to leave on a high note."
The 29-year-old has combined both jobs for the past two years and last season was the only part-time player in the Football League.
With one year left on his contract Rainford asked manager John Still to release him early, a decision he said was incredibly difficult to make.
"In my 10 years of playing senior football it's easily the hardest decision.
"Sometimes the hardest decisions are the right ones, I'm a local boy so it was a big decision for all my family but deep down, as hard as it is, I feel it is right."
"I do want to return to non-league football but at the same time I've played the best football of my career"
And he said he enjoyed every moment of it: "It's been better than fantastic for so many reasons.
"The football, the fans and how people have taken to my family and the team-mates who are now proper friends not just team-mates.
"It's been such a good time and as hard as it is I just feel it is the right time."
The former Colchester United trainee added he was not about to turn his back on the game.
He confirmed: "I do want to return to non-league football but at the same time I've played the best football of my career, so I'd like to go to a club that are ambitious.
"I'll have few weeks now with the family and then hopefully pick a club and you never know it could still be in Essex."
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