A former striker of a number of London sides has admitted he is strongly considering retirement.

Former Fulham, Millwall and QPR striker Matt Smith has admitted he will likely hang up his boots despite receiving plenty of offers this summer. Smith enjoyed a sold spell at The Den between 2019 and 2022, scoring 17 goals in 91 league appearances, while he scored 21 goals in 92 league appearances for QPR between 2017 and 2019.

Smith departed London in 2022 and linked up with the Class of 92’s Salford City. Since making that move, the target man has been in superb scoring form, netting 40 goals in 95 league appearances, but he was released this summer. The 35-year-old broke into the top two divisions relatively late in his career after he was signed by Leeds United in 2013, and he joined Fulham a year later. He netted nine goals in 51 league appearances for the Cottagers between 2014 and 2017.

After leaving Salford at age 35, Smith has received offers, but he says he is leaning towards retirement, keen to go out on his own terms. He told Breaking Lines podcast: “Being brutally honest, I think this is it. I haven’t announced my retirement and I’ve had five or six loose offers, similar to what I had at Salford.

“I think what what I’m trying to balance off is the next 10 years and the next 10 months. I’m trying to look a bit longer term, which is why I’m here where I am right now, which is in an office and not on a pitch somewhere. Never say never but slowly I’m getting around to the idea this could be it. It was always my intention to leave on my own terms with my head held high. I kind of feel I’m in that position now.

“I’ve had five or six managers ask me if I want to come in – I’ve not told them the last time I went for a run was the last game of last season, they might rethink their decision. I probably need another month to get back to some sort of fitness!”