AFTER months mulling over retirement but never quite managing it, Graham Kemp has had the decision made for him.

Ruptured ankle ligaments have ruled the Brockenhurst player-manager out for the rest of the season and effectively brought the curtain down on a distinguished career spanning more than 700 Wessex League games.

When Kemp limped out of a tackle towards the end of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Bemerton Heath Harlequins, he didn't think there was too much wrong.

But by the time he got home, he was unable to put weight on the badly swollen ankle and spent Saturday evening in Accident and Emergency before hobbling away on crutches.

The veteran former Dorchester, Weymouth and Lymington & New Milton defender said: "The hospital said it would keep me out for between six and eight weeks which is the end of the season and I was going to retire then in any case.

"I've been fortunate to have only missed about ten games in my whole life through injury, but it's still disappointing to have to finish like this.

"I'd like to have played in the last game of the season, had some fun and a drink afterwards, but it's not to be.

"I'm 40 this weekend - as that kick on Saturday reminded me! - but I suppose I should think myself lucky because it could have been much worse."

Over the years non-league football has been like a drug to Kemp who, under the management of Derek Binns, captained Lymington & New Milton (formerly AFC Lymington) to three successive Wessex League titles between 1996 and 1999.

Ironically, the first game of his injury-forced retirement will be against his old club at Grigg Lane tonight.

For the first time since the Binns golden era, the Linnets have a realistic chance of winning the title in what is the most wide open championship race in years.

Kemp has a sneaking suspicion it will be Lymington's year again. He said: "Gosport are in the last chance saloon, Thatcham have drawn too many and I'm not sure if Winchester have the strength now to carry it on. I think Lymington's main threat will be Newbury."

Lymington are also without their defensive linchpin tonight with Paul Towler sitting out a seven-day ban for five bookings.

Kemp's Brockenhurst namesake, midfielder Nick Kemp, is sidelined with two broken toes.