The 37-year-old only signed for the club in the summer and is yet to make a competitive appearance but says after some soul searching, the time is right to call it a day.

“My priorities have got to change now to my family”. “My little boy was at the first game of the season and I was sitting on the bench thinking I really should be devoting the time to him, that’s clear now”.

El-Abd ends a 22 year career, half of which he spent with Brighton & Albion, making just shy of 350 appearances.