THE curtain has come down on Lee Burns' 23-year playing career after he quit as player-manager at Melksham Town this week.

Burns, 38, has enjoyed a glittering non-league career, including leading Chippenham Town out at Wembley, but has now decided to take some time away from football.

He is expecting to return to management one day but insisted he has laced up his boots in senior football for the last time.

Burns took over the managerial hot-seat in February after Nigel Tripp resigned but after leading them to Screwfix Premier Division safety has revealed he is looking forward to a rest.

He said: "I had a chat with the chairman Mick Perrin and told him that I wanted to resign. I have really enjoyed it there and it is a fantastic club but I think the position has come at the wrong time for me.

"I have not had a break for 23 years and I just felt it was time. I am getting married in August and my fiance has stayed by me for seven years and let me do what I want.

"I feel that I want to do something different now. I went to watch Chippenham on Saturday and I am looking forward to being able to please myself at weekends.

"I feel Melksham are in a better position now than when I joined and they will definitely be in the position to do something but unfortunately it will not be with me."

Burns, who started the season at Westbury, is expecting to return as a manager in the Western League in the future.

He said: "I need to get away but I am sure I will be back.

"Maybe in a years time I will be ready to return to management but we will just have to see what happens."

Burns, a no-nonsense centre back, started his playing days at Bath City and has since played for a number of clubs including Trowbridge Town, Chippenham Town and Westbury United.

His career will always be remembered for the time he led Chippenham to the FA Vase final at Wembley in 2000 but he reflects on countless other "unforgettable times".

He said: "Obviously Wembley was great and I still get to talk about it with people almost all the time. I will never get bored of it.

"I believe I have probably still got another couple of years in me as a player but I have not got that enthusiasm any more.

"I am sure a lot of people will be happy I am retiring because they won't be getting kicked by any more.

"When Mick Perrin appointed me as a manager he used to say he hated me as a player but I take that as a compliment because it meant I was a winner."