Southport striker Steve Daly opts to hang up boots

Daly signed a new two-year deal at Southport in 2010

Southport striker Steve Daly has decided to retire from football after Saturday's match against Braintree.

The 29-year-old re-joined the Sandgrounders for a second spell in 2008 from local rivals Burscough.

"Steve has sat down and discussed his situation honestly and openly," Southport manager Liam Waston told the club's official website.

"Steve knows the commitment I am demanding and feels he cannot give the club the time required."

Daly, who first moved to Haig Avenue in 2003 from Runcorn, helped the club gain promotion to the Blue Square Premier in 2010.

The striker has told Watson he is unable to combine training and travelling with the demands of work and a young family.

"I have signed Steve twice here at Southport and also at Runcorn and Burscough so we go back a long way," Watson continued.

"I respect Steve for that and we have amicably decided to part. Saturday will be a chance for our supporters to give Steve a deserved goodbye.

"He wants to quit and retire - he may think again in the future about that, but our regime is too demanding for him and I understand.

"I will be looking to bring players in with both Steve and Matty McGinn now gone."