FORMER Bantams star Billy Clarke has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33.

The forward had three spells at City, with the most notable his first between 2014 and 2017, as he helped the team reach the League One play-offs in successive seasons.

The Irishman briefly returned towards the end of the 2018-19 season, and also played for the Bantams last term.

He was one of nine first-team players released in May though, and having been unable to land a role as a coach with the Bantams, or find a new club, he has decided to call it a day.

Announcing his retirement on Twitter, Clarke said: "It’s a wrap!!

"Thank you to everyone who has helped me fulfil my dream. Thank you to all the clubs who have let me play for them. One chapter closes and another one begins. Can’t wait to start my coaching career."

Clarke did get a brief taste of coaching last season at City, when he took charge of the club's under-16s, and he admitted he had hoped to carry on doing something like that in 2021-22.

Speaking to the T&A's Simon Parker in June, a month after his release, he said: "I never expected to be a regular player but with me going into the coaching side, I felt I could have been utilised in that area.

"There were only myself, Neil Matthews, John Vaughan and Derek (Adams) now who have played.

"I thought the club could have used me like that as a link to the players and then I maybe could have played in the Football League Trophy games or something like that.

"I still think I’m more than capable of playing and I’m not saying I’m past it. But I know I could have started my coaching career at Bradford.

"That was always in the back of my mind that it might happen."