MARATHON man Graham Alexander has played his last game for Burnley, after agreeing a settlement to leave the club by mutual consent.

The club captain went down in history when he became only the second outfield player in the history of English football to achieve 1,000 senior appearances in April.

But, at 39, he has become a victim of the club’s vision to establish a younger squad under manager Eddie Howe, and today had the remaining year on his player/coaching contract cancelled after almost four years at Turf Moor.

The popular midfielder had the option of staying on in a coaching capacity, as part of the contract he signed under former manager Brian Laws 12 months ago, but is not yet ready to hang up his boots.

Alexander is in the final year of his UEFA Pro Licence course and this summer went on assignment to the European Under 21 Championships in Denmark.

Coaching will be the next, natural step for the Scotland international, who was signed by Steve Cotterill from rivals Preston North End in August 2007 for £200,000.

However, despite adding three further appearances since reaching his incredible milestone towards the end of last season, Alexander is determined to carry on playing - for one more season at least, although he refuses to set a deadline.

Speaking days after coming off the bench against Swansea to hit the 1000 mark, Alexander said: “I’m happiest when I’m on the football pitch, it’s where I feel at home, so as many times you can get out there and whatever you can do to be out there, you’re going to do it.

“You have to have an inner strength and put disappointment to one side when people question you and think you’ve gone. I’ve probably had that for 10 years now.

“Once you hit 30 everyone thinks you’re finished.

“It’s amazing that people do that because there is so much still to give to football as a player. You evolve as a player and there are different attributes to give to teams from that age.”

But there was never any guarantee that his personal ambitions to keep playing would be fulfilled at Burnley, where he made 178 appearances, for he didn’t start a game following Howe’s appointment in January.

Alexander, whose penalty against Reading in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg set Burnley on the road to Wembley in 2009, was linked with vacant managerial posts at Morecambe and Bury in May.

For now, I understand he has taken up an invitation to train with Bolton Wanderers to keep on top of his fitness while he searches for a new club.

A club statement read: “Burnley FC would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Alexander, who has been a model professional and influential leader during his four years at Turf Moor.

“The club captain was hugely instrumental in the Clarets’ rise to the Premier League and played a major role during the club’s inaugural top-flight campaign.

“Towards the end of the 2010/11 season, the (Scotland) international then made history by becoming only the second outfield player in English football to make 1,000 senior appearances.

“However, the aim of the Burnley Football Club board of directors, with the full backing of manager Eddie Howe, is to now pursue a long-term strategy of lowering the average age of the playing squad.

“In closing, everyone at Burnley Football Club would like to wish Graham every success in his future playing and coaching career.”